Here’s what you need to know Monday morning
By Chris Ryndak / Sabres.com
Saturday was a big night. Rasmus Dahlin scored the first goal of his NHL career in the Sabres’ 3-0 win over Arizona. Linus Ullmark recorded his first career shutout in his first start of the season and Jeff Skinner’s first goal as a Sabre came in the third period.
Here’s what you need to know.
About Saturday night
From the Lexus Postgame Report…
Rasmus Dahlin said prior to departing Buffalo on Friday that he wasn’t sure what to expect from his first NHL road trip, one that would include five games spanning over 10 days out west.
Surely, scoring his first career goal less than three minutes in would have been hard to predict.
Only 2:45 had ticked off the clock on Saturday when Dahlin followed Jeff Skinner on a rush and buried a loose puck in the crease, marking what many of his teammates agreed afterward would be the first of many NHL goals for the 18-year-old defenseman.
Sabres coach Phil Housley said the players were thrilled for their young teammate at the time of the goal, and their enthusiasm could be heard from outside the dressing room following a 3-0 win over the Arizona Coyotes.
“They were really glad,” Dahlin said. “That makes me glad, too. We have a good chemistry on the team. We’re a good team.”
Ullmark dropped to one knee and pumped his fist as the clock expired. The goalie had waited five games and 17 days for his first start of the season, but the result was worth it.
“It was sweet,” he said afterward.
Ullmark said he felt “a little off” to begin the game, but he looked plenty comfortable by the time the Coyotes made their push down 2-0 in the second period. In the span of just over a minute, he stopped a couple of one-time shots from Richard Panik and Lawson Crouse.
“Yeah, I was kind of settled in and I felt way better,” Ullmark said. “Yeah, they had some pushes, but we played really solid defensively. We were keeping guys outside and just giving me the shot lane.”
“It was nice,” Skinner said. “It’s been a while for me I think. Risto made a great play up to me. The puck was rolling a little bit, I tried to settle it down a little bit and fortunately I got one there.”
Housley had said following practice on Friday that he liked Skinner’s game despite the lack of early results. He was happy to see the forward’s efforts finally pay off.
“He’s been really doing the right things,” the coach said. “Not only offensively, he hasn’t been rewarded, but defensively, he’s coming back hard, he’s stripping pucks from behind. It’s good to see a guy finally get rewarded.”
The road trip continues tomorrow night
Buffalo will play the Vegas Golden Knights tomorrow night as the 5-game road trip continues. The Sabres beat Vegas 4-2 on home ice Monday. Faceoff is scheduled for 10 pm ET.
The GMC Game Night pregame show kicks off at 9:30 pm on MSG with Dan Dunleavy and Rob Ray on the call.