Beaulieu developing chemistry alongside Dahlin

Nathan Beaulieu drifted toward the slot and caught a pass from his defense partner, setting off the sequence of events that led to Jeff Skinner's first-period goal against Tampa Bay on Tuesday night.
It wasn't an ordinary D-to-D pass, but it's the type one needs to be ready for when playing alongside Rasmus Dahlin.
"I think me and him really think the game the same way," Beaulieu said following a team meeting at KeyBank Center on Tuesday. "On the first goal, you notice that. You don't really see plays happening like that too much, a D hitting another D in the slot.
"I just think that we think the game really well, the same way, so I think that makes things a lot easier to read in the offensive zone for both of us."

The assist on Skinner's goal was the first of two Beaulieu would record against the Lightning, marking his first multi-point game as a Sabre (and sixth of his career). He scored a goal in the game prior, against Vancouver on Saturday, when he cut to the net and tapped in a back-door pass from Kyle Okposo.

Both of those performances were building blocks, he said, coming off a stretch in which he sat for seven of eight games after sustaining an upper-body injury in San Jose on Oct. 18. He returned to the lineup in Buffalo's overtime win in Montreal last Thursday.
"Montreal was a tough one, I didn't really feel that good," he said. "But the last couple games I've felt better. Obviously when the team's winning it's a lot easier. But now trying to get back in the swing of things, I think our last few games have been a lot better and kind of my identity."
Beaulieu has said that he wasn't asked to activate in the offensive zone prior to joining the Sabres last season. Now, it's common to see the defenseman forechecking below the goal line or gunning to the net on the rush, as he did on this Vladimir Sobotka goal against the Canadiens:

He's been paired with Dahlin since rejoining the lineup, and the results have been positive. The duo has been on the ice for seven goals at even strength (compared to two against) while posting a Corsi-for percentage of 57.58.
"Dahls is a good skater who moves the puck really well, so you know he's looking for me lots as I'm looking for him," he said. "Just the aspect of staying ready and knowing where that next play is going to go is the biggest thing."

A new standard

Kyle Okposo was clear on Tuesday that while the Sabres are pleased with the results of their current three-game winning streak, they're aware they haven't put together a complete performance during that stretch. Fellow alternate captain Zach Bogosian echoed that sentiment on Wednesday.
"I don't think we played our best game last night, but we found a way to win and that's what good teams do," Bogosian said. "We try not to dwell on the past, but maybe that one wouldn't have happened in the past.
"We have to continue to keep raising that standard, that level of play, and keep meeting those expectations that we have in this room. I think we've done that with winning games, but I think more importantly we need to find that consistency with how we're playing."

Up next

The Sabres did not practice on Wednesday, opting instead to report to KeyBank Center for off-ice activities. They'll return to the ice on Thursday in preparation for a three-game road trip that begins with back-to-back games in Winnipeg and Minnesota on Friday and Saturday.
Coverage of Friday's game begins at 7:30 p.m. with the GMC Game Night pregame show on MSG-B, or you can listen live on WGR 550. The puck drops at 8.