Ninehart (sabres)

Can you say "Worst to first"?

Buffalo Sabres fans can.

The Sabres finished the 2017-18 season in 31st place in the NHL standings.

This season, the Sabres have erupted for 16 wins and 34 points in their first 24 games of the 2018-19 season.

These guys are good. Scarrrrrrrrrry good!

The #CardiacKids have done it again. They snatched victory from the jaws of defeat.

The Sabres improved to an NHL-best 16-6-2 (34 pts.) on the season. It's the first time the Sabres have had led (or tied to lead) the NHL in points after the first week of the season since October 23, 2008.

The Sabres finished Saturday night with sole possession of the NHL lead in points for the first time since winning the President's Trophy in 2006-07.

I had a great feeling the Buffalo Sabres would go to Detroit to win their ninth straight goal.

I felt good about the numerology.

On Saturday night, the Sabres played the Red Wings. It was Buffalo's 6th game in the last 9 days. Sabres captain, #9 Jack Eichel, was Buffalo's leading scorer. All the Sabres had to do is defeat the Red Wings on the hallowed ground in Hockeytown that Gordie Howe made famous.

Gordie Howe wore the iconic #9 Winged Wheel sweater.

The Sabres completed the task of winning their ninth straight games by defeating the Red Wings in the shootout.

Samson Nine-hart scored in the seventh round of the shootout for the 3-2 win against the Wings.

It is the longest winning streak for the Sabres since they won the first 10 games of the 2006-07 season. That season, the Sabres won the Presidents Trophy and played in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Red Wings forward Andreas Athanasiou scored five-hole on Linus Ullmark and Sabres winger Tage Thompson also scored in the fifth round.

Reinhart beat Howard backhand high glove to earn the extra point for the Sabres.

Jeff Skinner scored his 18th goals of the season. Skinner held the NHL goal scoring lead when he scored his 18th goal of the season, however, Winnipeg's Patrik Laine scored 5 goals (19 total) against St. Louis to take the goal scoring lead way from Skinner.

Thompson scored for his third goal of the season.

The Sabres are now in first place overall in the NHL standings with their 16-6-2 record. The Sabres are also currentky in first place in the Eastern Conference standings.

Linus Ullmark made 35 saves.

Five of Ullmark's six wins have come on Saturday's this season.

Dylan Larkin and Anthony Mantha scored for the Red Wings.

Jimmy Howard made 33 saves.

Skinner gave the Sabres a 1-0 lead early in the first period by dunking a Jack Eichel rebound while on the power play for his 18th goal of the season. Skinner now has 17 goals in 17 games.

Larkin tied the score at 1-1 in the first minute of the second period.

Thompson put Buffalo ahead 2-1 at 7:40 of the third period with a power-play goal. Rookie sensation Rasmus Dahlin made a perfect pass to Thompson who ripped a bomb past Howard.

Anthony Mantha tied the game at 2-2 at 13:52 of the third period.

The Sabres are looking to win their 10th straight game against Evander Kane and the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday night in Buffalo.

**

Tage Bomb-son has been a force for the Sabres for the past few games.

The power forward has played in only 17 of Buffalo's first 24 games due largely to his inconsistent play.

Sabres head coach Phil Housley and his assistant coach Davis Payne have committed to themselves to make Thompson the best player he can be. Rather than sending the kid to Rochester to figure it out for himself, Houlsey and Payne have invested quality time and TLC into developing the hulking winger.

Thompson has all the tools to be a dominant player in the NHL. He's big, strong, skates well, defends well and has a cannon for a shot.

Thompson's hard work and extra attention to detail has been shining through in his game.

Thompson has scored three goals in the last four games. Patrik Berglund's injury has created an opportunity for Thompson to show off his newfound swagger and his bomb of a shot. Thompson's goal in Detroit ties his career high of three goals scored set last season in St. Louis. It took Thompson 41 games to score three goals last season while it has taken him only 17 games to score three goals this season.

Ryan O'Reilly has scored 12 goals and 14 assists in 22 games played.

It appears the Sabres won the ROR trade because Sobotka and Berglund have played as advertised: gritty, two-way forwards who are difficult to play against and can score for your offense. Thompson's skill set is that of a dominant power forward (6'5" and 205 lbs.) who can score you 20-25 goals a season at even strength and on the power play.

Considered "the other player" in the Ryan O'Reilly blockbuster trade with St. Louis, Thompson has his confidence now and is the best version of himself on the ice.

The Sabres acquired veteran forwards Thompson, Vlad Sobotka, Patrik Berglund, a 2019 first round pick and a 2021 second round pick.

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Saturday night's victory over the Red Wings was extra special for Rasmus Dahlin.

Dahlin and his bohood friend Cristoffer Ehn played against one another on an NHL rink.

The two childhood friends from Lidköping, Sweden were reunited 3,993 miles from their hometown.

Dahlin and Ehn went from Lidköping to Frölunda and on to NHL. The meeting with Ehn was something that Rasmus Dahlin noted with a heart felt tweet after the match.

"Very special feeling when I have just played against my neighbor from little Lidköping. From hockey in the backyard to NHL! It's like a dream!"

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