It has felt like a long time coming for Buffalo Sabres hockey to return to the ice.
After more than 10 months from playing in game action back on March 9, the Sabres were back to work on Thursday to kick off the 2020-21 season against the Washington Capitals at KeyBank Center.
However, the contest did not get off to a great start for Buffalo with the first 40 minutes of action being primarily dominated by Washington. By the time the Sabres showed some life in the third period, it was already too late.
Washington jumped right out of the gate with the game's first goal just 5:43 into the game, and eventually grew their lead to 4-1 at the 13:23 mark of the second period. The Sabres got the gap as close as 4-3 just 20 seconds into the third period, but a mistake by Eric Staal in the Buffalo zone just 26 seconds later ended up being the undoing for Buffalo's chances.
While the 2020-21 season did not get off to the start many around the Sabres had hoped for, the team has the chance to make up for the loss on Friday night as they close out their two-game set with the Capitals at KeyBank Center.
Here are three quick observations from Thursday night's contest:
1.) Thursday's performance felt like a preseason game
With a long layoff from game action, it should have been expected there would be some sloppiness and mistakes made by the Sabres to start the contest.
With no exhibition games for the Sabres to get in after their 14-day training camp, it is understandable that it took Buffalo nearly a full game to get their feet under them. There's often nothing that a team can do in training camp practices or scrimmages that can replicate the pace of game play.
Many of the players on the Sabres have not even gotten a chance to play a game since March, and it showed right off the bat on Thursday.
Buffalo's foot speed lagged for a good chunk of the night against a high-flying Capitals offense, while it looked like the mental crispness of the group was not quite up to par. Passes were not hitting the mark, decision making was shotty, at times, and it seemed like Buffalo was always just one step behind Washington in every facet of the game.
In the opening 40 minutes, Buffalo was out-shot 23-17 by the Capitals, while also getting out-chanced by a good amount.
However, Buffalo rebounded well in the third period as they tried to fight back and tie the game. The Sabres went on to out-shoot the Capitals in the final 20 minutes, 9-5, and they were able to net two goals. However, the effort was all for naught once the clock struck 0:00.
We'll see how well the team can respond on Friday night, and maybe that strong third period can carry over into the next game.
2.) Impressive first game in Buffalo for Taylor Hall
Along with linemate Jack Eichel, Hall is the type of player that is worth the price of admission every single time. That was no exception on Thursday.
In the first period of his first game in Buffalo's new royal blue and gold, Hall found the scoresheet with a power play goal to tie the game at 1-1. The 29-year-old was camped in the slot on the top power play unit when he was on the receiving end of a beautiful passing play with Eichel and Victor Olofsson.
Later in the game when Buffalo made its final push to tie the contest, Hall picked up his second point of the night as he collected a loose puck in the slot and passed it over to Olofsson to register the primary assist.
Hall finished his first game with the Sabres with his goal and assist, while also registering two shots on goal in 19:30 of total ice-time.
While Buffalo's top line did not have the greatest of showings on opening night of the season, Hall looked to be playing well on the left wing with Eichel and Tage Thompson. He skated well, controlled the puck and protected it well on his stick, and was getting into open areas to try and make a play.
Maybe it helped that Hall had a chance to play this summer in the Return To Play plan with the Arizona Coyotes, but Buffalo will certainly reap the benefits if he continues to have outings like he did on Thursday. And just think, he's probably not quite up to his regular pace yet either.
3.) Dylan Cozens looks like he belongs in the NHL
One player who should be as close to complete game shape heading into the 2020-21 season on the Sabres roster is Cozens, who is coming off a stellar performance at the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship in Edmonton.
The 19-year-old was quite noticeable in his first-ever NHL game on Thursday. Cozens was able to keep up with the pace of play with relative ease, he was not afraid to get physically engaged to get in position or win a puck battle, and he looked very comfortable in his own skin.
Late in the second period with the team down 4-1, Cozens and his line of Tobias Rieder and Cody Eakin went to work in the offensive zone and put up some quality pressure on the Capitals. After a net-front scramble that the youngster was right in the middle of, Rieder came up with the loose puck and was able to tuck the puck in under goalie Ilya Samsonov and in for his first goal with his new team.
In the process, Cozens was credited with the primary assist on the goal, giving him his first career NHL point.
Overall, Cozens looked impressive in his first game with the Sabres, picking up the assists while putting up a shot on goal and a hit in 12:09 of total ice-time.
The Sabres are clearly intent on bringing Cozens in slowly to the NHL game, but he already looked like he was ready to dive nose-first into the action. If he continues to play at this pace, Cozens will earn his keep at the pro level in no time.