5 takeaways | Sabres earn emotional win for Tokarski in D.C.

Dustin Tokarski pointed skyward once the final horn sounded at Capital One Arena on Thursday.
In the moments following his first NHL win in over five years, Tokarski thought of his late father.
"It was pretty incredible, to be honest," the goaltender said. "I lost my dad a few years back, so that was my first NHL win since he's passed. So, I was just pointing up to him for that special moment.
"And then all the guys were just awesome coming in, and there's nothing better for a goalie than celebrating with your teammates after a win."

Tokarski, playing in place of an injured Linus Ullmark, made 27 saves to do his share behind a confident young Sabres team that defied the standings in a 5-2 victory over the first-place Washington Capitals. The win improved the Sabres to 5-2-3 in their last 10 games.
Dylan Cozens tallied two assists for the Sabres, who received goals from Sam Reinhart, Victor Olofsson, Casey Mittelstadt, Anders Bjork, and Tage Thompson. Olofsson, at 25 years and 271 days, was the oldest of the scorers.
Interim head coach Don Granato preached the dangers of complacency afterward but admitted to the fun being had by a young group that seems hellbent on making the most if its final month.
"We want to keep improving and getting better," Granato said. "But when you watch your players enjoy and immerse in the moment because they're enjoying the moment, it's hard not to have fun."
Here are five takeaways, beginning with a memorable night for the Sabres goaltender.

1. Tokarski: "This team has a bunch of gamers"

Tokarski credited his teammates for a strong performance in which they outchanced the Capitals, 29-26 (according to NaturalStatTrick.com).
"The guys were incredible," he said. "It's been quite the season for everybody, but it showed tonight in the grit and the passion. This team has a bunch of gamers in it. I think there's a bright future here."
The future may be bright, but the man of the moment was Buffalo's 31-year-old goaltender. Tokarski was only 20 when he made his NHL debut with Tampa Bay in 2010. The following season, he led the AHL in wins and won the Calder Cup.
Tokarski has put together an accomplished career in the AHL, but NHL time grew scarce as years passed. Injuries to Ullmark and Carter Hutton, combined with the trade of Jonas Johansson, opened the door this season for Tokarski to see his first NHL action since 2016.
The victory Thursday was his first since Dec. 12, 2015 - a span of five years and 124 days. It's the 16th-longest stretch between wins in league history, according to NHL Stats. (The longest belongs to Gordie Bell, who went 10 years and 119 days between wins from 1945 to 1956.)
How could his teammates not be inspired?
"He deserves it," Mittelstadt said. "He's played so well since he's been here. I think he fires the guys up, too, on the bench. You can see how hard he's battling and making big saves. He's done a great job. … It was a super good moment for him tonight and it was nice to be a part of it."

2. Sabres continue to exude confidence

A strong first period by the Sabres appeared to end on a high note when Reinhart deflected a shot by Cozens to open the scoring with 1:50 remaining. Instead, Dmitry Orlov scored 47 seconds later and sent the game into the first intermission tied at 1-1.
There were a few moments like that, when the pressure of playing an accomplished team that had already beaten the Sabres six times this season could have swung momentum. It never did. Olofsson scored off a turnover early in the second period to recapture the lead.
When the Capitals, down 2-1, drew a high-sticking penalty against Matt Irwin shortly after Olofsson scored, the Sabres stifled the league's second-ranked power play and extended the lead on a shorthanded goal from Mittelstadt.

"I felt very comfortable over the course of that game that they were doing the right things," Granato said. "Sometimes you let the outcome and worry about the outcome interfere. Our guys are not worried about the outcome. Just immerse in the moment and trust that it's going to work out."

3. A dominant outing from the Cozens line

Granato had a separate video meeting with the line of Arttu Ruotsalainen, Cozens, and Bjork prior to the game on Thursday. Even after it concluded, he could feel their energy.
"You could see the chatter with them even when I finished the meeting," Granato said. "They're talking about this and that and the other and excited for the game."

The line turned in a dominant outing, evidenced by the numbers. Cozens skated 14:01 at 5-on-5, during which the Sabres held advantages in goals (2-0), shot attempts (15-5), and scoring chances (8-3).
Of that 14:01, 9:31 came with either Nicklas Backstrom (celebrating his 1,000th game) or Alex Ovechkin on the ice for the Capitals.
"I don't know if they even care who they're lined up against," Granato said. "They're seeing the situation and what they can do and they're excited about the next play they can make."

4. Bjork's first impressions

Bjork shared the sentiment he received upon arriving in Buffalo regarding the success under Granato.
"The guys kind of told me when I came here, 'We're a lot different team right now. We're transitioning quick, playing hard, making a lot of plays,'" he said. "Huge credit to him. I think he's taught these guys well. We're still growing but it's cool to see where we're headed."

The strong first impression has gone both ways. Bjork came to Buffalo hoping to discover an offensive identity with the benefit of more opportunity. So far, he's had both.
Bjork skated 18:40 on Thursday - which, as pointed out by The Buffalo News' Lance Lysowski, was his highest ice time since November 2017. He tallied the assist on Mittelstadt's shorthanded goal and then buried a one-timer fed by Cozens to up his total to three points in two games with the Sabres.

5. Okposo exits with injury

Kyle Okposo left the game and did not return after taking a puck to the left side of his head during the first period. The shot came from Irwin, who was attempting to send the puck into the offensive zone from center ice.
Granato did not have an update on Okposo after the game.
"It's an awful feeling, a terrible feeling," Granato said. "Not only when a guy gets injured but then how it happened. You feel bad for two guys at that point, honestly."