The Buffalo Sabres held a practice on Monday following a day off, and the energy from their recent victory against the Florida Panthers remained strong. The team engaged in a fast-paced, high-energy session that led to heightened emotions and a scuffle involving the captain.
During a drill, Rasmus Dahlin executed a hip check on Peyton Krebs, causing Krebs to tumble over him. Upset, Krebs quickly retaliated, and the situation escalated into a fight, which was swiftly broken up by the entire team to prevent further conflict. This incident reflects the competitive spirit Dahlin is trying to instill, while Krebs’ reaction underscores his gritty demeanor throughout training camp and the early season.
Although Krebs lost his starting position due to offseason changes, injuries opened the door for him to join the lineup, and he is eager to capitalize on this chance. “We like to practice hard,” Krebs stated. “That’s been our motto this year, and we’re living by it. Off the ice, we’re friends.”
After practice, Dahlin expressed regret over the incident, noting, “I regret it now. I apologized to him. That was really bad by me – I shouldn’t have done that.” While the hip check posed a risk, the physical nature of practice seems to be a growing trend.
“It’s competitive out there. We want to improve and push each other,” Dahlin added.
In terms of player updates, JJ Peterka participated in practice as he recovers from a concussion, with coach Lindy Ruff emphasizing the importance of his progress. Winger Zach Benson, who appears to still be recovering from a lower-body injury, also skated with the team.
Here are the practice line combinations for the forwards and defense:
**Forwards:**
– Zach Benson – Tage Thompson – Alex Tuch
– JJ Peterka/Jiri Kulich – Dylan Cozens – Jack Quinn
– Jason Zucker – Ryan McLeod – Jordan Greenway
– Beck Malenstyn – Peyton Krebs – Sam Lafferty
**Defense:**
– Rasmus Dahlin – Henri Jokiharju
– Mattias Samuelsson – Connor Clifton
– Jacob Bryson – Dennis Gilbert
**Goalies:**
– Devon Levi
– Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
Notably, JJ Peterka spent significant time working with the second powerplay unit, suggesting he could be in the lineup for Wednesday’s game. Devon Levi was in the “starter’s net,” but it’s premature to draw conclusions from that. The team practiced on both rinks at HarborCenter, rotating between them.
Tomorrow’s practice should provide clearer insights into the lineup leading up to the next game.
