It was a fortunate bounce in what has been a consistently productive offensive season for the 22-year-old. Dahlin's 12 goals are tied for 17th-most by a Sabres defenseman in a single season. Jordan Leopold was the last to even score 10, during his 13-goal season in 2010-11.
Dahlin is up to 52 points, tied for 14th-most by a defenseman in franchise history. Gary Galley was the last to hit the 50-point mark in 1995-96.
Tweet from @BuffaloSabres: R A S M U S. D A H L I N. 👏Our first 50-point defenseman since 1995-96.#LetsGoBuffalo pic.twitter.com/0ZRaVT8Lnh
The numbers reflect Dahlin's evolution into the shutdown, All-Star caliber defenseman he has become for the Sabres this season. They also speak to the Buffalo's growing offensive identity as a team.
The Sabres rank 16th in the NHL with an average of 3.20 goals per game since March 1. That number inflates to 3.45, which ranks 11th, since April 1.
Sabres coach Don Granato said the evolution has as much to do with the growing ability of the Sabres' defensemen to join the play offensively, as Owen Power did in scoring his first NHL goal on Thursday.
"We're pushing … to get our defensemen more active offensively, and you've seen Dahlin's numbers increase over the last month, and that's been a real point of emphasis," Granato said.
"You see it in our practices, incorporating the defense more actively. And it's more than when you activate your D, it's more scoring out of your forwards as well. So, yes, Dahlin's numbers will improve, but so will the offense."
Dahlin has 15 points in 17 games dating back to March 20, tied with Norris Trophy favorite Cale Makar for fourth among NHL defensemen in that span.
Tweet from @JourdonLaBarber: Rasmus Dahlin\ has 15 points in 17 games dating back to March 20.Here's where that fits among NHL defensemen. #LetsGoBuffalo pic.twitter.com/HQTrTkjIbY
He has upped his pace of late, tallying three goals and eight points during his last five games. That run has coincided with a switch to his off side on a pair with Mattias Samuelsson.
"The vision is better on the right side," for sure. "I'm more of a shooting threat than a passing threat when I'm on that side."
Goaltender Craig Anderson left the session at KeyBank Center early. Granato did not have a report on the goaltender afterward.
Here's how the group lined up ahead of Saturday's home game against the New York Islanders:
| April 22 |
| --- |
| | C | RW |
| 53 Jeff Skinner | 72 Tage Thompson | 71 Victor Olofsson |
| 37 Casey Mittelstadt | 19 Peyton Krebs | 89 Alex Tuch |
| 74 Rasmus Asplund | 24 Dylan Cozens | 21 Kyle Okposo |
| 96 Anders Bjork | 28 Zemgus Girgensons | 29 Vinnie Hinostroza |
| | 20 Cody Eakin | 15 John Hayden |
| LD | RD | G |
| 23 Mattias Samuelsson | 26 Rasmus Dahlin | 41 Craig Anderson |
| 25 Owen Power | 10 Henri Jokiharju | 31 Dustin Tokarski |
| 78 Jacob Bryson | 45 Casey Fitzgerald | |
| 4 Will Butcher / 33 Colin Miller | 13 Mark Pysk | |
