Sharpen Up: September 10, 2018

The Prospects Challenge wraps up today so come spend your lunch hour with us.
If you can stop down to Harborcenter, tickets are $10 for the 12:30 p.m. faceoff between Buffalo and Pittsburgh. If not, we'll be live streaming the game in the Buffalo broadcast market starting at 12:25. Dan Dunleavy, Martin Biron and Brian Duff will be on the call.
Here's what you need to know.

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From the weekend

On Friday, Rasmus Dahlin posted three points in the first game of the tournament, a 6-4 win over the Devils. Check out the full recap here.
The Sabres weren't so fortunate on Saturday in a 3-1 loss to the Bruins. Vasily Glotov scored Buffalo's lone goal.
From the recap:

Following a night in which they put on a show in front of a sellout crowd at Harborcenter, the Buffalo Sabres were unable to generate offense against an experienced Boston Bruins team in their second game of the Prospects Challenge on Saturday.

While the outcome was unfavorable - a 3-1 loss - the lesson was valuable. Rochester Americans coach Chris Taylor said afterward that the difference between this outing and the one 24 hours prior, when the Sabres put up six goals against New Jersey, came down to his players simply trying to do too much.
"That was a good team," Taylor said. "It was very valuable. A team like that, you can't turn pucks over at the blue line, they're going to come back at you. Like I said, a lot of individualized play for us. I didn't think we were as physical, especially in front of the net. We couldn't sustain to be there.
"We had a couple good shots there, a couple rebounds. We've got to fight a little bit harder to get to those areas and get those second and third opportunities."

Glotov is entering his first pro season after signing a one-year AHL contract during the summer. The Prospects Challenge serves as his first chance to make an impression.
"It's a big opportunity for me," he said. "It's my first pro year. I need to impress coaches, I need to impress management doing my best and have a shot at main camp."

Around the league

While you were sleeping, the Vegas Golden Knights acquired Canadiens captain Max Pacioretty in a trade for forward Tomas Tatar, forward prospect Nick Suzuki and a second-round pick in the 2019 NHL Draft on Sunday.
From NHL.com's report:
Montreal (29-40-13) finished 14th in the Eastern Conference last season, 26 points behind the New Jersey Devils for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Canadiens qualified for the playoffs in seven of Pacioretty's 10 seasons, including reaching the Eastern Conference Final in 2010 and 2014.
Tatar scored 34 points (20 goals, 14 assists) in 82 games with the Golden Knights and Detroit Red Wings last season. The 27-year-old forward, selected by Detroit in the second round (No. 60) of the 2009 NHL Draft, had two points (one goal, one assist) in the Stanley Cup Playoffs last season, helping Vegas reach the Cup Final, where it lost to the Washington Capitals in five games.
He was traded to Vegas by Detroit on Feb. 26 for a first-round pick in the 2018 NHL Draft, a second-round pick in the 2019 NHL Draft and a second-round pick in the 2021 NHL Draft. He has three years remaining on a four-year contract he signed with Detroit after the 2016-17 season.
Suzuki, selected by Vegas No. 13 in the 2017 NHL Draft, had 100 points (42 goals, 58 assists) in 64 games for Owen in the Ontario Hockey League last season. He signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Golden Knights on July 16, 2017.

Training camp begins Thursday

Buffalo will open its main training camp on Thursday, when veteran players are scheduled to report for testing and physicals. Beginning Friday, the team's practice sessions at Harborcenter will be open to the public, with practices broken down into multiple sessions throughout each day.
The Sabres will then open their preseason slate of games on Monday, Sept. 17, when the team takes on the Columbus Blue Jackets at 7 p.m. in Columbus. Buffalo then returns home the following night for a 7 p.m. faceoff at KeyBank Center against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The full training camp roster and schedule will be announced at a later date. All practice times are subject to change.
Schedule for first week of camp:
Thursday, Sept. 13
-Players report for testing and physicals.
-Closed to public. Media may attend for select player availability, beginning at 8:30 a.m. in the press conference room.
Friday, Sept. 14
-Session one: 9:45 - 10:20 a.m. (New Wave Energy Rink) / 10:25 - 11:15 a.m. (KeyBank Rink)
-Session two: 11:45 a.m. - 12:20 p.m. (New Wave Energy Rink) / 12:25 - 1:15 p.m. (KeyBank Rink)

Saturday, Sept. 15
-Session one: 9:45 - 10:20 a.m. (New Wave Energy Rink) / 10:25 - 11:15 a.m. (KeyBank Rink)
-Session two: 11:45 a.m. - 12:20 p.m. (New Wave Energy Rink) / 12:25 - 1:15 p.m. (KeyBank Rink)

Sunday, Sept. 16
-Practice: 9:45 - 10:15 a.m. (Both rinks)
-Scrimmage: 10:30 - 11:15 a.m. (KeyBank Rink)