Buffalo Sabres eagerly await the return of Olympic stars Thompson and Dahlin, whose stellar performances boost the team’s confidence in their playoff push.
BUFFALO, N.Y. — The Olympic break hasn’t exactly felt like a vacation for the Buffalo Sabres as they watch the games closely.
With star center Tage Thompson suiting up for Team USA and winger Rasmus Dahlin representing Sweden, teammates have been keeping up to the action throughout the Winter Games and what they’ve seen has been nothing short of impressive.
“I thought they both represented our team great,” Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said. “They both played great and obviously (Thompson has) got a couple of goals and Dahlen’s played really well.”
Thompson and Dahlen have used the Olympic stage to showcase their talents to a worldwide audience, but for those inside the Sabres locker room, none of it has come as a shock. The production from Buffalo’s two headliners has been exactly what their teammates expected.
“Ras looks like Ras,” forward Josh Norris said. “(Thompson is) doing great too, and obviously their team’s super deep … they’re doing a great job of representing our team.”
The timing of the break carries extra weight for a Sabres squad that finds itself in the middle of a critical playoff push. With just 25 games remaining in the regular season, Buffalo is eager to get its stars back and keep the momentum rolling.
The extended Olympic pause has tested the patience of a group that knows every game matters from here on out.
“Obviously it was a longer break than usual,” defenseman Mattias Samuelsson said. “I think definitely towards the end everyone’s pretty eager and excited to get back, especially how our season’s been going and where we are in the standings. Everyone is excited to keep playing and finish the push here.”
The energy inside the locker room is clear — this team is hungry. Having watched Thompson and Dahlin compete on one of hockey’s biggest stages, the Sabres believe they’ll be returning with even more confidence heading into the stretch run.
Buffalo’s playoff hopes are very much alive and with their two biggest names set to rejoin the group, the Sabres are ready to hit the ground running and make their case in the crowded Eastern Conference standings.