Sabres victory in NHL Heritage Classic 'sign of character'

HAMILTON, Ontario -- The Buffalo Sabres said they believe they've latched onto qualities that eventually can take them higher in the NHL standings. They used some of those to defeat the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-2 in the 2022 Tim Hortons NHL Heritage Classic at Tim Hortons Field on Sunday.

The Sabres (20-32-8) scored three straight goals in the third period to break a 2-2 tie. They have won four of their past six games, all against teams that are in playoff position. That includes two wins against the Maple Leafs (5-1 on March 2) and victories against the Minnesota Wild (5-4 on March 4) and the Vegas Golden Knights (3-1 on Thursday).
"I hope it's a sign of growth," coach Don Granato said. "Time will tell, but I think it's more a sign of character. The guys' will is just strong. I think it's always been strong. But here's a little more conviction with the will. The belief is a little stronger. And the determination is a little higher."
The Sabres won't be qualifying for the Stanley Cup Playoffs this season, 26 points out of the second wild card into the postseason from the Eastern Conference, but they said they see the start of a journey up the ladder.
The Sabres have experienced some turbulent seasons, last qualifying for the playoffs in 2010-11. Buffalo finished last in the NHL last season (15-34-7), and that particular frustration included an 0-15-3 stretch between Feb. 25-March 29.
Buffalo appears to be inching forward after the trade of captain Jack Eichel on Nov. 4. Eichel and a third-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft were traded to the Golden Knights for forward Peyton Krebs, who had two goals in the Heritage Classic, conditional first-round pick in the 2022 NHL Draft and a conditional pick in the 2023 draft.
"We're really proud of what we have here," Granato said. "From the standpoint of we know we have skill, there's a good mix of some older, really good leaders. But we really know we have good people and competitive people. The last couple games are something where we really felt our players worked. Credit to them. They put the work in."
Granato said the value of the results in the past two weeks has bolstered confidence. He cited goalie Craig Anderson, who made 34 saves Sunday, as one of the starting points in that department.
The 40-year-old has won four of his past five starts, with a 2.81 goals-against average and a .913 save percentage in that time. He's won all three of his NHL outdoor games, having made 29 saves in a 4-2 win for the Ottawa Senators against the Vancouver Canucks in the 2014 Heritage Classic in Vancouver on March 2, 2014, and made 28 saves for the Senators in a 3-0 win against the Montreal Canadiens in the NHL100 Classic in Ottawa on Dec. 16, 2017.
"Craig Anderson has really stabilized things for us," Granato said. "That's been significant over the last few weeks to get us to this point. That's key. The older guys' leadership ... it's big, because it's big moments in front of a crowd like this (26,119) in Canada. So to be able to do it in in this environment, or perform well performing under pressure, yes, it does give you confidence moving forward. And you have to just keep pushing forward. Just keep doing what you're doing, and things will turn for you."
Anderson, the oldest member of the Sabres, said his younger teammates are starting to learn about the details that make a difference.
"This game is a mental battle," Anderson said. "We all know how to play hockey. We get to this level because we're elite athletes. We're elite at what we do. The difference between winning and losing is such a fine line that there's such a mental battle that you have to stay within yourself and really stay focused.
"I'm a culprit for it too. We fail multiple times trying to stay in the moment. Keep reminding yourself to stay in the moment. We're starting to learn that and we're starting to grow in those areas."
Granato said some of Sabres' youngest players, like defensemen Henri Jokiharju, 22, and Rasmus Dahlin, 21, are starting to raise their play.
"We have a lot of young guys that have really emerged over the last month and a half," Granato said. "Jokiharju has elevated his game; I've been with him for the four years in the NHL. This is beyond a new level. He's been so consistent, determined. ... It really helps with the combination of those young guys and Craig Anderson in there."
Jokiharju played a Buffalo-high 24:51 in the Heritage Classic; Dahlin was next at 23:25.
"You can really see we're brothers in the locker room," Dahlin said. "We care about each other. We have something really good going on. Everyone wants to win together, and it's fun to be a part of for sure."