New York. Buffalo could only line up five defenses in the night’s scrimmage against the defending champion in Denver – but it still managed to take the heaviest scalp of the season.
– We sacrificed ourselves for each other, says top scorer Rasmus Dahlin after winning 4-2.
Just before the ballpark warm-up, it became clear that Owen Power — a 2021 draft pick — would be unable to play due to a lower-body injury.
In the late turn, there was no way to call up the bench, so the Sabers were simply forced to face the Great Avalanche with only five backs.
“He really wanted to play and did everything he could to be able to be involved, but unfortunately it didn’t work out,” Rasmus Dahlin tells Buffalo News.
However, the guests from Western New York managed to fight their way to victory. They led 2-0 in the first period and took a 3-0 lead in the second. Then the champions made a strong push and came close to 3-2, but with less than a minute left in the match, Dylan Cousin put a goal into an empty net.
– You’re a little tired. Playing with only five slopes is tough everywhere, and even worse at higher altitudes. But we all moved on, says Matthias Samuelsson.
Dahlen agrees:
We sacrificed ourselves for each other. I am very satisfied with this effort.
He was excellent himself and scored the tenth goal of the season at the end of the second half.
– I shot as hard as I could and I’m very glad the puck went in, he says.
Rasmus also contributed an assist, as did Viktor Olofsson.
