Sharpen Up: All the Sabres news you need to know on October 14, 2019

After Friday night's thrilling 3-2 shootout victory over Florida, the Buffalo Sabres are back in action this afternoon with the Dallas Stars in town. We'll see you at KeyBank Center for the 3 p.m. faceoff.
The GMC Game Night pregame show on MSG will begin on MSG at 2:30 p.m. RJ and Rayzor will take it from there at 3 on MSG and WGR 550.
Here's what you need to know.

Today's matchup

Let's take a look through @SabresPR's Game Notes…

Looking back at last game

From the Lexus Postgame Report…
Linus Ullmark watched from the opposite end of the ice as the trio of Zemgus Girgensons, Johan Larsson, and Kyle Okposo went to work for long stretches in the offensive zone throughout the Sabres' meeting with the Florida Panthers at KeyBank Center on Friday.
What was the goalie thinking during those moments of rest?
"That's Sabres hockey right there," Ullmark said. "I love it."

The line of Girgensons, Larsson, and Okposo helped create a pair of goals in Buffalo's 3-2 shootout victory over Florida, which improved the team to 4-0-1 to start the season.
It wasn't always smooth. As was the case in their overtime win against Montreal on Wednesday, the Sabres took a two-goal lead in the third period only to see a division rival come back to force overtime. Mike Hoffman scored the tying goal with the Panthers' net empty and 10.4 seconds left on the clock.
Still, Sabres coach Ralph Krueger saw positives in the way his team handled the game down the stretch and heading into overtime.

"There was a period after the 2-0 where they made a really hard push, but I actually liked our last six, seven minutes," Krueger said. "I thought we were able to learn from that and settle down, manage the puck better, stayed stronger inside.
"But overall, I'm] really pleased with the calmness on the bench as we headed into overtime, the belief that we could still win, the lack of disappointment in that late goal is really what sticks with me at this moment."*
**[Lots more to read here.*
Brian Duff followed up with Larsson on Sunday.

Sunday's practice

The team was off on Saturday but went right back to work Sunday morning at LECOM Harborcenter. How has defenseman Henri Jokiharju adjusted to his new team? We took a look at his play in the Ice Level Practice Report…
Henri Jokiharju said upon being acquired by the Sabres in July that it was his goal to play the full season in the NHL. It's early, and coach Ralph Krueger has emphasized that internal competition will remain throughout the season, but Jokiharju's five-game start certainly has him on the right track.
Krueger said after practice on Sunday that Jokiharju and rookie forward Victor Olofsson were given the go-ahead to look for places to live in the area, a positive sign for the 20-year-old defenseman.
"They're both out hunting for places to live," Krueger said. "But, again, the competition in the league doesn't stop. The pressure on you [to perform] doesn't stop."

Jokiharju has been paired with a veteran in Marco Scandella for all five games this season. Together, their 56.56 shot-attempt percentage ranks 23rd among NHL defense pairs with at least 20 minutes played at 5-on-5, according to NaturalStatTrick.com. Both players said they have good chemistry off the ice, which has translated onto it.
Krueger at multiple points has used the word "confident" regarding Jokiharju, both about his attitude coming into camp and his decisive passing coming out of his own zone. Scandella opted for the same adjective when asked what he's learned about his young teammate.
"He's a really good young player, good puck-moving defenseman," Scandella said. "He's playing with confidence out there, so I feel like it's really working between us."
Read the full report here.

Today in Sabres history

2006: Chris Drury records his first and only hat trick in a Sabres uniform in a 7-4 win over the New York Rangers.
And if you weren't at the arena, you probably had to listen to this game on the radio because the October Storm knocked out the power all across the area.
That's also the night Sabretooth broke the glass after the game and freaked out Martin Biron…
Watch: Youtube Video
Classic 'Tooth.