Sharpen Up: April 23, 2022 | Sabres host Islanders this afternoon

The Buffalo Sabres are back home today for an afternoon clash with the New York Islanders at KeyBank Center.
Faceoff is at 12:30 p.m. on MSG and WGR 550. Pregame coverage starts at noon on MSG. Tickets are on sale now.
Here's what you need to know.

Yesterday's practice

From the Practice Report: https://www.nhl.com/sabres/news/buffalo-sabres-practice-report-rasmus-dahlin-offense/c-333300476
Rasmus Dahlin dropped the two halves of his stick onto the ice as the puck crossed the goal line, then shrugged as he skated toward his teammates to celebrate.
Dahlin scored his 12th goal of the season Thursday on a one-timer that snapped his stick in two. The puck slid slowly into the New Jersey net off the skate of Devils forward Dawson Mercer.
"I haven't been that lucky in a couple of years," Dahlin said Wednesday.
It was a fortunate bounce in what has been a consistently productive offensive season for the 22-year-old. Dahlin's 12 goals are tied for 17th-most by a Sabres defenseman in a single season. Jordan Leopold was the last to even score 10, during his 13-goal season in 2010-11.
Dahlin is up to 52 points, tied for 14th-most by a defenseman in franchise history. Gary Galley was the last to hit the 50-point mark in 1995-96.

The numbers reflect Dahlin's evolution into the shutdown, All-Star caliber defenseman he has become for the Sabres this season. They also speak to the Buffalo's growing offensive identity as a team.
The Sabres rank 16th in the NHL with an average of 3.20 goals per game since March 1. That number inflates to 3.45, which ranks 11th, since April 1.
Sabres coach Don Granato said the evolution has as much to do with the growing ability of the Sabres' defensemen to join the play offensively, as Owen Power did in scoring his first NHL goal on Thursday.
"We're pushing … to get our defensemen more active offensively, and you've seen Dahlin's numbers increase over the last month, and that's been a real point of emphasis," Granato said.
Read more here.

Today's matchup

From the Game Notes:
• This is the third and final meeting between the Sabres and Islanders this season.
• Last meeting: Buffalo defeated New York 6-3 in Buffalo on Feb. 15
• The Sabres are 3-7-0 in their last 10 games against the Islanders; 5-5-0 at home.
• This is the 184th game all-time between Buffalo and New York; Buffalo has an 85-73-25 series record.
• The Sabres are 49-31-12 at home against the Islanders all-time.

• Since March 27, the Sabres' power play is ranked first in the NHL at 40 percent (14-for-35).
• Buffalo has scored a goal on six of its 13 power plays over the team's last five games.
• The Sabres are 9-for-28 (32.1 percent) on the power play against the Islanders since the start of the 2018-19 season (15 games).
• Buffalo has scored a power-play goal in three of its last four games against New York.
• Craig Anderson has a .921 save percentage and three shutouts in 24 career games (22 starts) against the Islanders.
• Anderson's .921 save percentage against the Islanders is his seventh-best against any single opponent in his NHL career (NY Rangers, .935; Winnipeg, .930; Buffalo, .928; Carolina, .928; New Jersey, .923; Detroit, .922).

• Tage Thompson has 23 points (13+10) in his last 20 contests, recording seven multi-point performances during that span.
• Thompson enters today's contest on a five-game point streak (4+3) and has recorded at least a point in 10 of his last 11 games.
• Thompson registered a five-game point streak from April 1 vs. Nashville to April 8 at Florida, tallying seven points (4+3) during that span.
• Victor Olofsson has 19 points (9+10) in his last 17 games and has tallied multi-point games in six of those 17 contests, including a single-game career-high three assists on April 21 at New Jersey.
• The Sabres are 12-0-0 this season when Olofsson records a multi-point performance.
• Olofsson enters today's contest on a three-game point streak, tallying six points (2+4) during that span.
• Jeff Skinner has 19 points (9+10) in his last 17 games and has tallied at least a point in 14 of those 17 contests.
• Skinner enters today's contest on a three-game point streak, tallying five points (1+4) during that span.

• Rasmus Dahlin has recorded at least two points in four of his last five games, including each of the last three, tallying eight points (3+5) over the five contests.
• Peyton Krebs has three assists in his last three games.

• Since making his NHL debut on April 12 at Toronto, Owen Power ranks second among NHL rookie skaters in ice time, averaging 22:06 per game during that span.
• Mattias Samuelsson ranks first among all NHL rookie skaters in ice time since April 12, averaging 23:58 per game.
• The Sabres have won each of their last three home games against the Islanders and have won three of their last four games against New York overall.

Fan of the Year nominations are open

Rick Martin Memorial Award voting closes tonight

The final round of voting for the 2021-22 Rick Martin Memorial Award is now live.
The finalists for the "The Rico," which is presented annually to the player whom fans believe best embodies what it means to be a Buffalo Sabre, (in alphabetical order) are:
Click here to vote now.
These three players had the most votes after the first round of voting closed
Fans are encouraged to visit Sabres.com/RicoVote and cast their ballot for the player they believe best demonstrates on-ice excellence, resiliency, and a dedication to the community.
Read more on each finalist here.

Next home game is RJ's Last Call

If you're attending today's game or coming next Friday, you can listen to Rick Jeanneret call the action live in arena using the Mixhalo app.