'Just a great feeling' | Anderson backstops Sabres to milestone OT win

DALLAS - Craig Anderson returned to the Sabres for nights like Monday - for the milestone, sure, but more so for the thrill of playing the game he loves with a group he believes in.
Anderson became the 31st goaltender in NHL history to play his 700th game, then bailed his teammates out with 13 saves during a frantic first period against the top team in the Western Conference. The Sabres adjusted and ultimately prevailed for a 3-2 overtime victory over the Dallas Stars inside American Airlines Center.
"The goalies are the last line of defense and when you can make a big save and elevate the team's morale, gosh, it's just a great feeling," Anderson said afterward. "It's like that adrenaline that kind of kicks in and makes you want to keep coming back."

Owen Power was eight days old when Anderson made his NHL debut in Los Angeles on November 30, 2002. The 20-year-old defenseman could only marvel at the performance of his goaltender after scoring the overtime winner for his first goal of the season.
"It's crazy how long he's been able to do it and at such a high level, too," Power said. "That first period he made probably about five to 10 grade-A chance big saves. It's pretty impressive to be able to play for this long and still be able to do it at such a high level."
Anderson's path to this milestone was neither easy nor linear - Anderson was drafted twice and played six seasons before settling in as a full-time NHL player. He was claimed off waivers three times in a two-week span in 2006, then traded at the end of that season.
The lessons Anderson learned during that time - the habits that separate those who stick around in the NHL from those who do not - are ones he now shares regularly as the oldest player on the league's youngest team. He is a calming presence in goal when he starts and an active voice when he does not.
It was in Dallas where Anderson addressed the Sabres at a critical point in their season last February. They had lost five straight games and were for all intents and purposes out of the playoff race. Anderson asked his young teammates what they wanted to make of the remainder of their season;
The Sabres went 16-10-3 from that point forward. Anderson had so much fun in the process that he decided to return for another season.
"He's played with a lot of guys, been through a lot of situations," Power said. "I think he's a huge leader on this team and good for really everyone, not just the young guys."

Anderson gave a different sort of address after the win on Monday. He spoke of the camaraderie in the dressing room and the love he had for his teammates, whom he had helped propel to a third straight victory. The team he expressed belief in one year ago now finds itself in the thick of the race, three points behind Pittsburgh for the second wild card spot in the Eastern Conference.
"At the end of the day we'll see where the chips lay but I like our chances of keeping our growth and keep learning," Anderson said. "At the end of the day, what's going to happen is going to happen but if we keep growing, I like where we're going to be."

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How it happened

PERIOD 1
Anderson was stellar while the Stars generated the first 10 shots of the game, buying time for Rasmus Dahlin to score the game-tying goal and send the two teams into the first intermission tied, 1-1.

Jamie Benn scored 1:44 into the contest for Dallas, burying a backdoor attempt on the power play. Anderson stopped the next 12 shots - a list that included a pair of point-blank chances for Joel Kiviranta and a glove save on Benn from the slot.
Dallas had a 10-1 advantage in high-danger attempts in the period, according to Natural Stat Trick.
The Sabres were able to tie the game on Dahlin's goal with 8:31 remaining in the period. Tyson Jost and Casey Mittelstadt combined to win a faceoff in the offensive zone, then Mittelstadt set up a one-timer for Dahlin from the point.

Shots were 14-8 in favor of Dallas at the conclusion of the period.
PERIOD 2
The Sabres settled the game down and outshot the Stars, 9-7, during a scoreless period.
Anderson turned away Dallas' best attempt, a point-blank shot from Roope Hintz. Jake Oettinger turned away chances in tight for Kyle Okposo and Alex Tuch.
PERIOD 3
Victor Olofsson buried a one-timer fed by Tage Thompson and Jeff Skinner to extend his goal scoring streak to four games and put the Sabres ahead 1:44 into the period.

Jason Robertson tied the score 5:58 into the period, the product of a tic-tac-toe passing play from Joe Pavelski and Hintz.
With 3:19 remaining, Alex Tuch drew a high-sticking penalty on Robertson, putting Buffalo on the power play. The Stars did not allow a shot on net as they killed the penalty.
OVERTIME
Moments after hitting the post, Power scored on a one-timer from the right faceoff circle, connecting on a pass from Thompson 56 seconds into the extra period.

"Just kind of had that open space there and Tommer made an unbelievable play," Power said. "It was nice to get it."

What we learned

1. Power scored two goals in just eight games last season but had been held off the board so far in 2022-23 despite a wealth of opportunities. His 47 scoring chances at 5-on-5 are tied for 25th among NHL defensemen, according to Natural Stat Trick.
"It's about time," Anderson said. "He's been dialed in practice, he's doing everything he possibly can to get the confidence in practice and just for him to get that monkey off his back is huge for him. Hopefully they just continue to roll for him."
2.Anderson continued to heap praise on Power, who has been a core player for the Sabres despite his lack of goals. He leads NHL rookies in average ice time (23:41) by more than two full minutes and ranks second among rookie defensemen with 17 points.
"I think the guy's well beyond his years," Anderson said. "He's got a long stick, good defensively, usually he's on the right side of the puck. He's still learning but as far as a guy that you can count on, I think it's very rare that you can count on a 20-year-old to play that kind of minutes in this league and he's showing that he can do it on a regular basis. He's playing a lot of minutes and playing a big role for us. He's a big part of this squad as far as where we're at and where we're going."

3.Dahlin set a new career high with his 14th goal of the season and matched his career high with his 53rd point in just 45 games this season. He previously set personal bests with 13 goals and 53 points in 80 games last season.
4. Dahlin became the 14th defenseman in Sabres history to record 14-plus goals in a season. The last was Alexei Zhitnik with 15 in 1997-98.
5.Olofsson scored his ninth goal and 10th point in the last 10 games. His nine goals rank third in the NHL during the month of January behind David Pastrnak (11) and Jack Hughes (10).

Up next

The road trip continues in St. Louis on Thursday. Coverage on MSG begins at 7:30 p.m. The puck drops at 8 on MSG and WGR 550.