Nick Foligno, back in his old hometown, finished the game a goal away from a Gordie Howe hat trick. The 34-year-old - who spent the first four years of his life in Buffalo while his father, Mike, played for the Sabres - picked up his first multi-point game in the Spoked-B with two assists to go along with five hits and a fight against former Bruins blue liner Colin Miller in 14:13 of ice time.
"That's his game tonight," said Cassidy. "He's banging early on, forecheck, gets behind them, knows what his role is. Nick's missed some time so he's got to get his pace up, his game pace, how to play and have a good shift the way he plays the game, in terms of managing the puck, getting to the net, being physical.
"I don't know how the fight started, probably him just being ornery and on a guy, going to the net against a right D all night, finishing him. That's what we need out of him. Probably more of that lunch bucket type of effort. Tonight was good he got rewarded."
Coyle was the beneficiary of Foligno's efforts all night and, particularly, on his first-period snipe. Foligno charged in hard on the forecheck in pursuit of Derek Forbort's hard rim dump-in, freeing the puck up for Coyle who finished it off with his rocket from the circle.
"He just does kind of a little bit of everything out there," said Coyle. "Those guys are so valuable on your team. I think I've said it before, playing against him was always tough. Just know he's gonna be in your face, forecheck hard. You saw it tonight, created so many opportunities for his linemates and beyond because of his forecheck.
"We get a goal off of it. He just brings the full package, leadership wise, in the locker room, on the ice, he can score, he's got skill, he's got grit. Those guys are huge to have. We're lucky to have him, pretty lucky to play with a guy like that."