Though there are some hard decisions looming, things are about as good as can be for the Buffalo Sabres. All they do is win of late, sitting atop the Atlantic Division in a season that continues to defy belief in the eyes of Sabres fans.
The incredible run continued in the second leg of their West Coast road trip. The Sabres looked a bit lax at times but still managed to make the most of their opportunities in a 5-0 win over the upstart San Jose Sharks.
The Sam Carrick Trade Was a Home Run
Though both sides could argue about the value of the Logan Stanley trade, there is no debate about the move that brought Sam Carrick to the Sabres. It was one of those under the radar deals that didn’t seem like a needle mover but has been a home run for the Sabres.
Carrick scored twice on Thursday night against the Sharks, bringing him up to four in seven games since joining the Sabres. The goals and points are nice, but it is his effort and forechecking ability that have been difference-makers for the Sabres.
When things get tight in the playoffs, the teams with the best bottom six forward groups wind up doing the most damage. The Sabres have found a tremendous line with Carrick and Beck Malenstyn as the anchors.
Rasmus Dahlin’s Ascension Needs to be Discussed More
One of the reasons the Sabres have emerged as legitimate contenders is because of the true ascension of Rasmus Dahlin into a top five defenseman in the NHL. He’s been very good before, but his game has hit another gear this season.
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The offensive prowess has always been there, and his 62 points place him second on the Sabres. The things that jump out most are his ability to agitate opponents and the way he makes the Sabres dangerous in transition.
Dahlin had a goal and an assist against the Sharks, routinely jumping into the play to provide an additional layer of pressure. His elite skating allows him to get back effortlessly, making him a true 200-foot player in every sense of the word.
The Historical Lyon King
It feels like every time he starts, Alex Lyon is earning enormous praise. Mostly because he has been playing well enough to earn enormous praise. The Sabres struggled to find their footing for much of the first half of the game, but Lyon held the Sharks off the board.
Lyon also continues to make history. He became just the fifth goalie in NHL history to win 10 straight road games, joining Carey Price, Evgeny Nabokov, Kevin Lankinen, and Devan Dubnyk. Nabokov and Dubnyk are tied for the NHL record with 11 consecutive road wins and Lyon has a chance to join them.
As well as Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has been playing, it feels like Lyon has to be the Game 1 starter when the playoffs begin. It is a nice problem to have for the Sabres as both goalies have been playing out of their minds for much of the season.
The Sabres are a Wagon, Pass it on
It is simply fun to be a Sabres fan at this point. The only complaint anyone could make at this stage is that the legendary Rick Jeanneret is no longer with us to provide the soundtrack for this run. The Sabres continue to win and win in different ways, the hallmark of a good team. Regardless of where this run ultimately takes them, I think we can all agree: “These guys are good, scary good!”
