Columbus Blue Jackets Staring Down the Barrel: Sabres and Wings

Let’s Talk about Number One

Lansing Murphy: A ton of new faces in Buffalo, most notably the number one overall pick, Rasmus Dahlin. How has the rookie played in his first ten games?

Jacob Strozyk: Rasmus Dahlin has handled his responsibilities with poise. While he hasn’t seen a lot of hard ice time yet, he is finding ways to succeed.

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What’s most promising is his obvious chemistry with star forward Jack Eichel and his ability to read any situation on the ice. It won’t be long before he is the unquestioned number one defender listed on the Sabre’s blue line.

Rob Berger: I have been impressed with Rasmus Dahlin’s start. After playing over 22 minutes in his first game, his nightly minutes have decreased but Dahlin continues to improve. He definitely hasn’t been thrown into the fire yet though.

Dahlin hasn’t seen the ice on the penalty kill, he has highest percentage of offensive zone starts on the team, and he has primarily played against the competition’s second and third lines. He has however become the team’s number two defenseman on the power play and is leading all Sabres defensemen in CF%. Overall, a pretty good start for the 18-year-old defenseman.

What about the other Fresh Faces in the 716?

Lansing Murphy: How about the other fresh faces? Jeff Skinner looks dominate and Casey Mittelstadt is still finding his way it looks like? Tell us more about how the Sabres are using these two players.

Rob Berger: Jeff Skinner got off to a quiet start skating with Jack Eichel and Sam Reinhart but has been red hot since moving to a line with Casey Mittelstadt in the fourth game. Skinner has four goals and five assists in the last seven games, including a hat trick against the Kings. Mittelstadt is still growing (he is just 19) and an argument can be made that he still needs time in the AHL. For now, Mittelstadt and Skinner are on the second line with Kyle Okposo.

Jacob Strozyk: Casey Mittelstadt is a crafty and quick forward who has distinct playmaking ability. This ability is put on display not just in his passing skills, but his ability to make a play out of almost nothing. He fights every shift for the puck at both ends and he is out to prove he belongs.

Skinner has found the scoring touch that all Sabres fans were hoping for when he was traded for. Seeing him work so well with Jack Eichel is both exciting and refreshing Skinner benefits from having Eichel on his line to make plays, and that makes him more dangerous than he already is; here’s the catch though.

Skinner does not NEED Eichel to make plays. Similar to Mittelstadt’s playing style, he can make plays happen on his own, the difference being a much better goal scoring touch; something naturally lacking in Buffalo since Thomas Vanek.

Sabre Matchup Advantages over the Columbus Blue Jackets?

Lansing Murphy: Where do you think the Sabres have a matchup advantage on the Columbus Blue Jackets?

Jacob Strozyk: Goaltending obviously…

No, the edge that I would give the Sabres is drive. This is a team that is on a winning streak while trying to prove that they aren’t the league’s punching bag anymore. They are playing with the kind of drive and heart that was seen out of the Vegas Golden Knights just a season ago.

Does it make them a cup contender? Absolutely not, but it makes them dangerous.

Teams may still underestimate the teamwork and perseverance coming from the Buffalo locker room, and that will be a mistake.

Rob Berger: There are not too many areas in which the Sabres provide a matchup issue for the Blue Jackets. The power play is starting to come together for the Sabres and the way the Blue Jackets penalty kill has been performing, the Sabres should be able to take advantage of Blue Jacket’s penalties.

Game Predictions from Jacob and Rob

Lansing Murphy: How do you see this game playing out tonight?

Rob Berger: It depends on which team shows up. The Sabres have looked really strong in their last three games but were pushed around in the previous games in Vegas and San Jose. Inconsistency has been the story of the season for the Sabres and playing on the road will be a real challenge.

That being said, I like the Sabres winning 4-3 with another big night from Jeff Skinner.

Jacob Strozyk: This will be a tight checking game, and if it opens up much, I’ll be surprised. After a bunch of tough chances for goals, I see a 3-2 win for Buffalo.

Lansing Murphy: Alright homers, thanks for the predictions! One last thing, give us a wing joint recommendation in Buffalo!

Jacob Strozyk: Duffs Wings in Orchard Park is always a great option, otherwise a local place in the Village of Hamburg known as Butteras may have wings that are a little bit better. I’d recommend that place highly, plus they have craft beer and fresh brick oven pizza; you can’t lose at this place.

Lansing Murphy: Well gentleman thank you for your time and the great insight on the Buffalo Sabres.

Be sure to follow Jacob and Rob on Twitter and read all their work over at SabreNoise.com. Let us know what you think about their prediction in the comments, and leave us your favorite wing joint!