Where would the Buffalo Sabres be right now without the services of their number one defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen?
In the wake of injuries to Buffalo blue line mainstays Zach Bogosian, Josh Gorges and Dmitry Kulikov, Ristolianen has become Dan Bylsma's 30-minute per game man.
Ristolainen recently told me that he would play all 60 minutes per game if Bylsma would let him.
Yes. He was serious.
Ristolainen is dominating at both ends of the ice while playing against the top lines of the opposing teams.
Ristolainen pounded home the game winning goal on the power-play goal just 57 seconds into overtime on Tuesday night. Ristolainen recorded a goal and two assists in Buffalo's 4-3 win against Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers. Oilers defenseman Adam Larsson took an ill-timed holding penalty in the dying moments of teh third period.
Ristolainen chipped in an assist on Evander Kane's goal tied the game at 3-3 with just 29 seconds remaining in regulation play.
Ristolainen scored his first goal of the season on a great feed from Ryan O'Rei
Ristolainen now has 16 points in 25 games played.
The Big Finnisher has already scored 11 poinst on the power play.
In the five games that Jack Eichel has played in since returnng form his high ankle sprain injury, the Sabres have collected 7 of a possible 10 points. Ristolainen has played a leadership role during trying times this season. The Savres have already lost 141 man games to injury this seaosn.
Their season would be doomed without Ristolainen.
Kane and Brian Gionta scored goals 3:08 apart in the first period to give the Sabres a 2-0.
Ryan O'Reilly has two assists while Jack Eichel and Marcus Foligno added single helpers.
Jordan Eberle and Milan Lucic scored 1:45 apart in the second to make it 2-2.
With two goals, Kane now has a point in four of his last five games (3+2), including at least one in each of his last three home games.
Brian Gionta’s goal gave him eight points (4G, 4A) in his last seven games against the Oilers.
With the game-winning goal and two assists, Rasmus Ristolainen now has seven points (1G, 6A) in his last five games and eight points (2G, 6A) in his last six games against the Oilers.
Ristolainen finished the game tied for 16th in the NHL with 15 assists and tied for ninth among NHL defensemen with 16 points.
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Busy night in Buffalo.
Both on the ice and off.
The subplot to the Eichel-McDavid affair is the plethora of NHL dignitaries in attendance to watch this game live and in person.
Many NHL teams have been struck by injuries to key players in the past few days.
Fresh off the news that their number one center Alex Galchenyuk is out indefinitely, the Montreal Canadiens have sent their Director Pro Scouting to Buffalo for the second consecutive game. Before Galchenyuk was injured, the Habs were in the market for a number two centerman. Now, Marc Bergevin needs a number one and a number two center.
I was told by a very reliable source here in Buffalo that Galchenyuk will be "out for a while". The Hab's leading scorer with 9 goals and 14 assists in 25 games, was injured when LA Kings center Anze Kopitar collided knee on knee with Galchenyuk.
There was also the Max Pacioretty trade denials last weekend.
Might the Habs be doing their diligence on versatile forward Evander Kane?
Kane has played center during his NHL career and juniors careers.
Kane has goals in his past two games and appears to be fully recovered from his cracked ribs that sidelined him for eleven games in October and November. Kane had a three game point streak (1G, 2A) snapped in Washington on Monday night. However, he scored a power play goal on th efirst period against the Oilers.
The AGM / Director Hockey Operations of the Tampa Lightning made the trip to Buffalo.
The Lightning are looking to upgrade their back end. They are looking for a veteran D.
St. Louis Blues Director Pro Scouting and Director Amateur Scouting are here as well.
The Blues lost veteran D Robert Bortuzzo to injury earlier this week and are looking for a depth D.
Other teams represented by scouts:
Arizona
Calgary
Dallas
LA
San Jose
Nashville
Carolina
NY Rangers
Boston
Philly
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