Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR 550) – It’s been almost two years since the Calgary Flames last visited Buffalo to play the Sabres. Calgary won both games against the Sabres in the 2019-20 season, with the game here in Buffalo being an overtime victory.
The Sabres have won two of their last three games, with Dustin Tokarski making 78 saves on 81 shots in those two victories.
Tokarski gets the call on Thursday against the Flames. The 32-year-old has posted a 3-3-2 record this season with a 2.71 goals-against averagea and a very good .920 save percentage.
With the two wins, the Sabres are tied with the Boston Bruins, two points back of the Detroit Red Wings and three behind the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Atlantic Division.
None of the injured players for Buffalo are ready to return, so there will be no changes to the lineup.
Other than the third period in Pittsburgh on Tuesday, Rasmus Dahlin has played a real steady game alongside Mark Pysyk. Pysyk is very humble and didn’t want to take any credit for Dahlin’s improved play, but Dahlin knows Pysyk has been a factor.
“I like playing with him," Dahlin said on Thursday. "He plays a simple game and he plays hard. He’s a veteran guy, and I learn new stuff from him, which is great.”
Pysyk never gets too high and never gets too low, and Dahlin appreciates that about him.
“On the bench and off the ice, he’s such a nice and fun guy, and he makes me relax," Dahlin said. "You know, I’m a competitive guy and he’s like, ‘Dude, relax, have fun’ and stuff like that.”
I remember a game here in Buffalo where Dahlin was under pressure in the defensive zone and he calmly flipped the puck out of danger to center ice. That is something you see Pysyk do too.
“I’m playing a lot of minutes, and I figure it can’t be perfect all the time," Dahlin said. "You have to make those plays sometimes, and that’s what I’ve been trying to learn the most this year - to play a more complete game and doing the right stuff. It’s not going to be flashy all the time. I’m trying to play more like a [defenseman] and be a guy you can trust.”
The Sabres haven’t scored a power play goal in four games, going 0-for-13. The Penguins had seven shots on goal against the Sabres' PP, with five of them being point-blank chances. Buffalo has had a horrible time getting the puck into the zone so they can set up.
“If we come up with a lot of speed, it’s very hard for their PK [penalty kill] to take it. But right now, we’re just kind of watching and not really wanting the puck. We just have to have confidence and take the puck, in or sometimes you just have to dump it and work hard,” Dahlin said. “[The Penguins] game is over, and I really think that something good is going to happen on the power play today.”
Calgary has lost four out of five games, but have picked up four points in that stretch. That has them third in the Pacific Division, one point behind the Edmonton Oilers and two back of the Anaheim Ducks.
It’s no surprise that under head coach Darryl Sutter, the Flames are playing with a strict defensive structure. Calgary only gives up 2.13 goals per-game, which is second in the NHL.
The goaltending numbers are insane, as Jacob Markstrom is 5-3-4 with a 1.82 goals-against average and a .938 save percentage. Former Boston Bruins netminder Dan Vladar is 3-0-1 with a 1.96 goals-against average and a .933 save percentage.
Markstrom has only given up seven goals in his last four starts, but he’s only gone 1-2-1. Vladar has started two of the last three games and gave up just two goals.
Elias Lindholm leads the Flames in scoring with eight goals and nine assists for 17 points in 16 games. Johnny Gaudreau has 16 points, while Andrew Mangiapane has 10 goals.
Join Schopp and the Bulldog for pregame coverage on WGR starting at 6 p.m. EST when they’ll be joined by Don Granato, Dahlin and Robert Hagg.
