It was a scene that Buffalo Sabres fans are all too familiar with: Thomas Vanek lurking near the crease late in the third period, looking to cash in on a rebound after a shot bounced off Linus Ullmark.
In order to get to that rebound, Vanek would first have to go through Rasmus Ristolainen. The 6-foot-4 defenseman acted as a wall in front of the Buffalo net, jostling the former Sabre to the ground while Ullmark covered the puck.
It wasn't a play that will show up on the highlights - there were those, too - but it was the one that came to Ullmark's mind when describing the defensive effort that earned the Sabres a 3-1 win over the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday.
Sabres rebound with strong defensive outing in win over Red Wings
Ullmark sets a franchise record; Power play stays hot
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© Rob Marczynski/Getty Images
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DET@BUF: Ullmark denies Athanasiou's breakaway bid
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DET@BUF: Mittelstadt nets PPG from the circle
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DET@BUF: Okposo scores PPG through screen