Field Level Media
29 Dec 2025, 05:10 GMT+10
(Photo credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images)
All the Buffalo Sabres do, of late, is win.
The red-hot Sabres will look to extend their eight-game winning streak Monday when they open a three-game road trip with a visit to the St. Louis Blues.
Buffalo picked up its most recent triumph on Saturday, 4-1 against the Boston Bruins in the Sabres' first game after the NHL's three-day holiday break. It did so without captain Rasmus Dahlin, who was in Sweden during the break attending to his fiancee, Carolina, who had a heart transplant in the summer. It marked the first time since Dec. 7, 2023, that the Sabres won a game in which Dahlin didn't play.
Dahlin is expected to join the team in St. Louis.
'We've gotten ourselves healthy, the lineup is deeper, the lines have had some continuity to them,' Buffalo coach Lindy Ruff said. 'It's like a competition between the lines now, who can go out (and) do the best job.'
Mattias Samuelsson, Dahlin's partner on the top defense pairing, stepped up against the Bruins and continued what has been a rejuvenation for the defenseman. He not only had a goal and two assists against Boston, but his strong defensive play helped get things going. With the Sabres down 1-0 early in the second period, he snuffed out Bruins forward Morgan Geekie behind the Buffalo net with a hit that forced a turnover and then led the ensuing rush up the ice that resulted in Ryan McLeod's tying goal.
The 25-year-old upped his career-best numbers to six goals, 12 assists and 18 points in 35 games, putting him on pace for 39 points for the season. He entered the current campaign with 43 points in 212 NHL games.
'I think I made a big emphasis on my game this year to try to play more of a 200-foot game,' Samuelsson said. 'Plays like that, good defensively, end plays, get up in the rush, whether it's the four-man or like that one, lugging the puck up the ice, that's hockey, that's fun, that's making plays.'
The Blues head into the contest looking to win consecutive games for just the fourth time this season after a 3-2 home victory against the Nashville Predators on Saturday. They last won two straight on Dec. 6-7 but then went on a two-game losing streak. They've alternated wins and losses over the seven games since, going 4-2-1 in that stretch.
'Anytime you're coming out of the (holiday) break, first periods are usually sloppy, but we came out with purpose and played well and really set the tone for the game,' forward Robert Thomas said. 'Starts are so important, something we're really emphasizing on. It's nice to feel good about yourself coming out of the first period.'
St. Louis has scored 34 goals in the opening frame, tied for 10th in the NHL entering Sunday. It's been a struggle over the final 40 minutes, though, with 32 in each of the second and third, which rank 24th and 29th, respectively. The Blues' season total of 98 through 39 games ranks 30th in the league.
'We're not a confident team (leading after two periods) right now and we've got to build towards that,' Blues coach Jim Montgomery said.
--Field Level Media
Get a daily dose of Boston Star news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Boston Star.
More InformationNEW YORK CITY, New York: A powerful rally across precious metals gathered fresh momentum on December 26, with silver vaulting past...
NEW DELHI, India: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on December 24 launched a next-generation US communication satellite,...
BEIJING, China: Foreign smartphone makers saw a sharp rebound in China last month, with shipments more than doubling from a year earlier...
NEW YORK CITY, New York: The arrival of new appetite-suppressing weight-loss pills is expected to speed up changes already underway...
BEIJING, China: China said it expects companies involved in negotiations over TikTok's U.S. operations to pursue solutions that respect...
SANTA CLARA, California: Nvidia has struck a deal with artificial intelligence startup Groq to license its chip technology and bring...
NEW YORK CITY, New York: Jazz musician Chuck Redd canceled a planned Christmas Eve concert at the Kennedy Center after the White House...
BEIJING, China: China said it expects companies involved in negotiations over TikTok's U.S. operations to pursue solutions that respect...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: The iconic Kennedy Center was renamed the Trump Kennedy Center by a handpicked board of President Donald Trump on...
(Photo credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images) All the Buffalo Sabres do, of late, is win. The red-hot Sabres will look to extend...
(Photo credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images) The Boston Bruins make the first of three Western Canadian stops on their season-long,...
(Photo credit: GREG LOVETT/PALM BEACH POST / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images) Billy Horschel made a 37 1/2-foot eagle putt on...
