Postgame Report | Dahlin, Tuch keep streaks alive in win over Canucks

VANCOUVER -Don Granato claimed that Rasmus Dahlin could never surprise him after Dahlin scored for the fourth straight game in Calgary on Thursday, an NHL record for a defenseman to open a season.
Granato stood by the statement on Saturday, after Dahlin broke his own record with a fifth straight goal to ignite the Sabres to a 5-1 win over the Vancouver Canucks inside Rogers Arena.
"No, I told you he'll never surprise me," Granato said. "He just competes so well. It's fun for everybody to see the talent that we were able to see behind the scenes when you watch practice every day and train every day. Now it's coming to the forefront. It's fun to watch."
Dahlin added a highlight-reel assist during the third period, giving him sole possession of the NHL lead among defensemen with eight points (5+3) through five games. His line included five hits, two blocked shots, and a plus-2 rating in 22:59.
- Next home game: Thursday, Oct. 27 vs. Montreal

Sabres goaltender Craig Anderson likened the driving force between Dahlin's play - his confidence - to that of Norris Trophy winner Erik Karlsson, with whom Anderson played in Ottawa.
"When Erik Karlsson was at the top of his game, he was doing things with the puck that you just wouldn't expect him to do because he had that confidence," Anderson said. "And Dahls is there in his own game, right?
"I'm not comparing him to Erik, but I'm comparing him to that confidence, that swagger with the puck that he has to be able to make those plays. He's just playing loose and letting his skill and ability take over right now."
With Dahlin at the forefront, the Sabres have improved to 4-1-0 and taken the first three games of their season-long, four-game road trip in Alberta and the Pacific Northwest. The trip concludes on the other side of the border against the Seattle Kraken on Tuesday.
The latest win included a gutsy effort from a defense corps limited to five men for the third straight game, a continued goal streak from Alex Tuch, a multi-goal performance from Victor Olofsson and a clutch, 29-save performance in goal from Anderson.
Here's the breakdown from a win in Vancouver.

How it happened

PERIOD 1
The Sabres built a 2-0 lead on the strength of the goals from Dahlin and Tuch.
Tage Thompson deked his way through traffic and drew a holding penalty in the process, setting the stage for Dahlin's power-play goal. Dahlin lofted a shot from the point and saw it deflect in off a Canucks player in the slot.

Tuch's goal concluded a dominant shift by the Sabres in the Vancouver end. The Sabres maintained control for 1:20, beginning when Owen Power crossed the blue line with control and delivered a cross-ice pass through traffic to an oncoming Casey Fitzgerald.
Buffalo went on to cycle around the perimeter of the zone - orchestrated largely by Thompson - before Vancouver finally cleared the puck to the neutral zone. Buffalo countered quickly, with Jeff Skinner forechecking and setting up Tuch in front of the net.

PERIOD 2
The Canucks took control during the period, finally cutting the deficit in half on the power play with 6:33 remaining in the period. Conor Garland was the culprit, burying a one-time shot from the slot.
"I didn't think our forwards helped us too much in the second period," Granato said. "I think we made a lot more work for ourselves and for the D. Craig was very good when he needed to be to [prevent] a shift in momentum."
PERIOD 3
The Sabres' forwards settled in and created their own shift of momentum early in the third.
Vinnie Hinostroza appeared to have scored less than two minutes into the period, but replay showed that his shot off the post had not crossed the goal line and the goal was taken off the board. The Sabres followed up with another goal on the very next shift, when Casey Mittelstadt set up Victor Olofsson's one-time goal on the rush.

"It was nice to get that quick goal right away and kind of kill the momentum for them," Olofsson said. "We took over after that, I think."
Dahlin set up Olofsson's next goal, deking past Tyler Myers as he drove toward the goal line before delivering a backhand feed through the crease.

"His skill is just taking over," Olofsson said. "That last goal was just a disgusting play by him. He's taking it to another level this year."

What we learned

1. Mattias Samuelsson sustained lower-body injury while attempting a hit in the corner early in the second period and did not return.
Granato said the early report on the injury was positive.
"[After] you see him go down and then have a tough time getting up, yes, positive," Granato said. "We won't know more obviously until tomorrow, but I was holding my breath like everyone else. You're wondering what type of news you're going to get. I'm much happier after I heard where he's at."
The loss left the Sabres with five defensemen for the third straight game. Ilya Lyubushkin (who returned Saturday) left during the second period in Edmonton. Henri Jokiharju (who has since been placed on injured reserve) was injured during the first period in Calgary.
"I think it's a credit to the shape that these guys are in and the work ethic that we put into getting ready for the games," Anderson said. "I think that's the main thing is that we're sticking together and we're doing it as a unit. One man falls and another man steps up."
The Sabres recalled Lawrence Pilut for added defensive depth on Friday.

2.Dahlin's five-game goal streak is the first by a defenseman in Sabres history, according to Sabres PR. It is the third such streak to open a season in franchise history, according to Sportsnet Stats, joining Gilbert Perreault (1979) and Thomas Vanek (2008).

3.Tuch scored for the fourth straight game, tying the longest goal streak of his career. His six goals are the most he's ever scored through five games in a season.
4.The Sabres had a visitor awaiting them after the win.

Up next

The road trip concludes in Seattle on Tuesday. Coverage on MSG begins at 9:30 p.m. The puck drops at 10.