The Buffalo Sabres were back at full strength for practice at LECOM Harborcenter on Friday, their final tune-up before returning to game action against the New York Rangers on Saturday evening. Rasmus Dahlin and Henri Jokiharju were back on the ice after both defensemen played three games at the 4 Nations Face-Off – as was Tage Thompson,
Rasmus Dahlin scored twice and had an assist, and the Buffalo Sabres capitalized on a five-goal first period in an 8-2 win over the New York Rangers on Saturday night. Tage Thompson and Ryan McLeod each scored twice,
Thompson is on standby as an emergency injury replacement for Team USA in the 4 Nations championship game against Canada.
It also whetted his appetite for more best-on-best hockey. Miro Heiskanen, Rasmus Ristolainen and Jani Hakanpää all missed the 4 Nations to injury, so competition for the Finnish Olympic roster will be more fierce. Vaakanainen acquitted himself well enough to at least be on the bubble, though.
Tage Thompson watched the 4 Nations Face-Off championship game from the press box in Boston's TD Garden as Connor McDavid scored the game-winning goal for Canada. The experience was a reminder of how badly Thompson wants to represent the United States at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
The Sabres (23-27-5) surged to a 5-0 lead in the first period, securing their fifth win in six games. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen contributed 26 saves, while Ryan McLeod added two goals and Jason Zucker notched three assists.
The Buffalo Sabres scored early and often in their return to action on Saturday, as they dominated the visiting New York Rangers, 8-2, at KeyBank Center. A complete game recap from WGR:
For three grueling, up-tempo practices coming out of the 4 Nations Face-Off break, the Buffalo Sabres focused on pushing the pace. They wanted to hit the ground running to begin the final stretch of the season, which they enter with lofty expectations. It had to start with Game No. 1 against the New York Rangers.
New York Rangers head coach Peter Laviolette had some blunt words regarding star goalie Igor Shesterkin's performance in Saturday's 8-2 blowout loss to the Buffalo Sabres.