Video: DET@BUF: Okposo nets empty netter for the hat trick
The play was vintage Girgensons, reminiscent of the race he won to negate an icing that preceded another Okposo empty-net goal in a win over the Penguins in November.
"Nobody does a better job of playing hard] than twenty-eight," Okposo said afterward. "When he plays every night, you know exactly what you're getting."
Girgensons has continued to serve in his consistent, workhorse role this season on a line alongside Okposo and, more recently, Peyton Krebs. The trio has been rewarded with points as of late, including a pair of goals on Thursday.
Prior to the empty-net goal, Krebs and Girgensons combined on a second-period forecheck that set up a goal for Okposo in front of the net. Both goals, Girgensons said, were the products of playing simple.
"Sometimes it's all you need to get those," he said. "I think the more simple you keep things, then later on in the game things start opening up more and you open up plays."
Video: \[Zemgus Girgensons\ after Friday's practice
Girgensons, now in his 10th season, is the longest-tenured Sabres player. He counts this season among the most fun he's played, on a young team brimming with potential that stepped up for its city Thursday with a fifth straight victory - a victory he helped seal.
"I think it was great for the city," he said. "We were told the building would be sold out that morning. It was just nice to give a little bit of a good feeling."
Here are more notes from Friday's practice at LECOM Harborcenter.
1.Eric Comrie (lower body) continued to practice but will not travel with the Sabres for their upcoming three-game road trip, Granato announced.
Comrie has been out since November 16 but began practicing with the team on December 15. Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams said Thursday that Comrie is continuing to progress in his recovery.
2.Here's how the Sabres lined up:
| December 30 |
| --- |
| LW | C | RW |
| 53 Jeff Skinner | 72 Tage Thompson | 89 Alex Tuch |
| 77 JJ Peterka | 24 Dylan Cozens | 22 Jack Quinn |
| 37 Casey Mittelstadt | 17 Tyson Jost | 71 Victor Olofsson |
| 28 Zemgus Girgensons | 19 Peyton Krebs | 21 Kyle Okposo |
| | 74 Rasmus Asplund | 29 Vinnie Hinostroza |
| LD | RD | G |
| 23 Mattias Samuelsson | 26 Rasmus Dahlin | 41 Craig Anderson |
| 25 Owen Power | 38 Kale Clague | 31 Eric Comrie |
| 78 Jacob Bryson | 46 Ilya Lyubushkin | 1 Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen |
| | 45 Casey Fitzgerald | |
3. The Sabres open their three-game road trip against the NHL-leading Boston Bruins on Saturday afternoon. It will be the second game of the season between the division rivals, with the Bruins having won the first matchup in Buffalo on November 12.
The Sabres held a one-goal lead for much of that game but the Bruins stuck to their patient, defense-oriented approach, eventually pouncing for three goals beginning late in the second period. The Bruins have yet to cool off, boasting a league-best 59 points and plus-57 goal differential.
"It is a challenge both physically and psychologically, and because of that it's an opportunity," Sabres coach Don Granato said.
"Obviously when you play a top team in the league - in this case the top team in the league - it's a measuring stick where you're at, it's a measuring stick of the progress you've made possible since the last time you played them and where we are in our growth. But I believe our guys are excited for it."
Video: Don Granato after Friday's practice
Coverage on Saturday begins at 12:30 p.m. on MSG. The puck drops at 1.
