Sabres restored confidence ahead of win in Calgary

VANCOUVER -Following their overtime win in Calgary on Wednesday night, Jack Eichel and Evan Rodrigues described the atmosphere on the Buffalo Sabres' bench in a manner that was reminiscent of their early-season, never-quit attitude.
Two nights earlier, the Sabres felt they were emotionally deflated by goals against in a 7-2 loss to the Edmonton Oilers. They used the time between those two games to restore confidence, and it paid off in a winning effort.
"We had a great practice," Jason Pominville said. "We had a really, really good meeting. We had a meeting after, the boys talked. I think you can't just sit there and feel sorry for yourself and dwell on losing a game, whether you lost it 7-2 or 2-1. A loss is a loss and you've got to move forward.

"I thought we did a good job the next day of seeing it on video, putting it behind us, coming to work and practicing hard and having good habits. So were the coaches, the coaches were upbeat at practice a couple days ago and it helped us, for sure."
Early in the season, players spoke often about the importance of having the wherewithal to stick to a game plan through times of adversity. It was a signature aspect of the Sabres in October and November; when they were trailing, they stuck to their simple, defense-first identity and let the rest fall into place.
Rodrigues said he felt they had drifted from that identity of late. They deviated from their simple game in adverse times, instead falling into the trap of trying to do too much and making more mistakes in the process. They used their practice in Calgary on Tuesday to get back on track.
"I think it's really important that we stay consistent," Housley said. "I think our leadership group has done a terrific job. We have very good conversations on what we need to do, what we need to improve on, how our work habits are, what our standard is, and we've got to stay consistent in that."'

Pominville said the attitude on the bench on Wednesday reinforced the importance of making the simple plays, even after they fell behind late in the first period and again early in the third.
"I think being positive makes everyone feel good," he said. "You can make a good dump-in and come back to the bench, guys are yelling, 'good chip, good play.' That kind of gives everyone a little confidence in that sense. It doesn't have to be a big play. Sometimes little plays add up and make a big play happen."
The Sabres conclude their road trip against the Canucks on Friday, then have nine days off for their bye week and the All-Star break.
"We have a really good opportunity tomorrow against a team that's been playing some pretty good hockey in its own right, to get back to .500 on the road, to go 2-1 on this road trip," Housley said. "There's a lot of things to play for, and more importantly just moving up and staying tight in the standings."

Rooting for Rasmus

Rasmus Dahlin has a chance to break a record held by Housley, Aaron Ekblad and Bobby Orr with a point in Vancouver, which would give him the first six-game point streak by an 18-year-old defenseman in NHL history. It's a record the Sabres coach said he'd like to see fall.
"Just for the record, I hope he breaks it tomorrow," Housley said. "But he's been playing really good, solid hockey lately, especially these last five games. Just contributing in all areas, whether it's in the D-zone, making a good breakout pass, joining the rush, adding to the rush or leading the rush. He's trying to create.
"His game is in a really good spot in his development. He continues to work on his defensive-zone awareness. We understand there are going to be mistakes with young players, but he wants to learn from his mistakes. He wants to be coached. He wants to look at video. Those things are good things for him to have to be able to be a true competitor and learn and get better."

Dahlin is tied for second among rookies and leads rookie defensemen with 26 points (5+21) in 47 games this season. He's on pace for 45 points, which would trail only Housley (57 points in 1982-83) for most the most recorded by a defenseman before his 19th birthday.

Thursday's practice

Jeff Skinner took a maintenance day but is expected to play against the Canucks on Friday. Remi Elie filled in on the top line alongside Jack Eichel and Sam Reinhart.
Here's how the lineup looked in its entirety:
81 Remi Elie - 9 Jack Eichel - 23 Sam Reinhart
43 Conor Sheary - 37 Casey Mittelstadt - 72 Tage Thompson
17 Vladimir Sobotka - 71 Evan Rodrigues - 29 Jason Pominville
28 Zemgus Girgensons - 22 Johan Larsson - 21 Kyle Okposo
24 Lawrence Pilut - 55 Rasmus Ristolainen
26 Rasmus Dahlin - 4 Zach Bogosian
6 Marco Scandella - 19 Jake McCabe
48 Matt Hunwick - 82 Nathan Beaulieu
40 Carter Hutton
35 Linus Ullmark