Dahlightful Debut (buffalo sabres)

buffalo sabres

Dahlightful Debut

By GARTH'S CORNER

Sep 9, 2018 • 9:27 am

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On Friday night, I watched a preview of the coming attractions of the immediate future and present tense of the Buffalo Sabres that starred the best prospect in the world, Rasmus Dahlin.

Inside a jam packed barn under the Friday night lights at Harborcenter at the his first ever Prospect Challenge, Dahlin showed the home fans and the dignitaries from the New Jersey Devils, Boston Bruins, Pittsburgh Penguins and several other NHL teams why he was the first overall pick at the NHL Draft in Dallas in June.

Dahlin led his Sabres teammates to a 6-4 victory over the Devils. The Frolunda product scored two beautiful goals and assisted on another. He played QB PP1 like an NHL veteran. Dahlin found passing lanes with relative ease and got the puck to his PP linemates. He and Lawrence Pilut moved the puck brilliantly, effortlessly. Their passes were always on the tape to men in shooting positions.

The kid is only 18 years old yet plays with the poise, purpose, polish and professionalism of a 26 year old NHL defenseman.

On Friday night, Dahlin exceeded all lofty expectations that were piled on him this summer.

Dahlin was dahlightful in his pro hockey debut. The yoing Swede dominated at Buffalo's srokkie camp in July which culminated with a 3v3 tourney. Friday night was abetter representation of his overall game because playing an eager opponent in 5 on 5 hockey is a more difficult task that playing shinny against your own teammates.

I was blown away by Dahlin's ability to possess, transport and distribute the puck through all three zones. His ability to process the play and survey the ice is uncanny. His passes are tight, crisp and on the money every time. His skating and edge work is of world class level echelon. He also delivered three or four heavy body checks that dropped in their tracks New Jersey Devils players.

What's more, Dahlin has a quick trigger finger that allowed his two score to beautiful goals for the left faceoff circle.

I love that Dahlin's transmission is always in drive, not reverse nor neutral. The kid is agressive by nature and his instincts guide him naturally to the offensive zone. Watch his two goals below. In each instance he drove the zone and didn't peel off or quit on the play. Most veteran NHL D-men would not have completed both of these scoring plays for fear of getting beat back the other way off a turn over. Dahlin identified his opportunities to extend plays and he buried the biscuit both times.

Here's the game winning goal by Dahlin early in the third period.

Note: Dahlin's active stick and quick thinking sent Tage Thompson in all alone on a shorthanded breakaway. Another beautiful goal that Dahlin helped manufacture.

Dahlin was my first star of the game. His fellow Swede teammate Alex Nylander (8th overall 2016) earned my second star. Super Swede centerman Rasmus Asplund, one of three Buffalo Rasmi, was my third star of teh game.

Honorable mention is due to Dahlin's defense partner Will Borgen, who was a one man wrecking crew all night long. Borgen, 21, was Buffalo's fourth round pick (#92) in 2015. The St. Cloud State defender brought his mean streak to work against the Devils. Borgen tattooed opponents with zero fear of retaliation. After the game, I asked Dahlin if Borgen's stay at home, tough style inspired him to go north and create with the puck.

"He's so easy to play with. He talks a lot. He's tough in the D-zone and skilled in the O-zone. It's fun to play with him. If he wants to join the rush, then I stay home. We talk a lot. It worked out today".

Dahlin admitted that once he saw Borgen knocking guys down to the ice that it inspired him to go get a piece of a New Jersey player or three.

Nylander scored a shorty of his own to finish off a masterful defensive effort by Asplund.

"Snipeshow" had the presence of mid to support the puck as Asplund outworked two Devils defenders and yet still had the presence of mind to feed the puck to Nylander who juked the New Jersey netminder with a few head fakes and slight of hand dekes

Nylander took his game back to an elite level on Friday night. He played like a guy who wants to be a NHLer this season. He wasn't passive not content to blend in. He was aggressive and forceful. He demanded teh puck and when he got it, he held it and didn't allow the opponent to take it back. Nylander played like a man possessed just like he does when he represets Team Sweden at the World Juniors. He needs to continue play that way every shift not once in a while. It clearly helped him to have Asplund feeding him the puck. Asplund has been Nylander's center at the last two World Junior Hikcey Championship tournaments.

Sensational Swede Victor Olofsson scored a beauty of a goal on a quick catch, quick release shot. Olofsson has a cannon for a shot and is not afraid to unsheath this weapon in battle. His future is very bright.

Final Score:

Buffalo 6 New Jersey 4

Buffalo Scoring:

Dahlin - 2G, 1A Nylander - 1G Olofsson- 1G Thompson - 1G Coskey- 1G

Asplund - 2A Pekar - 2A

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Buffalo will host the Boston Bruins on Saturday night.

The Bruins were doing their Dahlin, Sabres pre-scouting on Friday night.

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After the game, Dahlin was impressed with the appreciation that Sabres fans continue show to him and his teammates.

Thanks, Sabres.com

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