Mittelstadt takes another step toward return at practice

Casey Mittelstadt was a full participant when the Buffalo Sabres returned to practice at Harborcenter on Saturday morning, signaling another step toward a return to the lineup. The rookie forward has missed the last two games with a lower-body injury.
"I felt good today," Mittelstadt said. "It's good to see yourself moving forward and taking steps. It's something to build off of, for sure. It was a very positive note."

The Sabres also had good news regarding the status of Kyle Okposo, who left their loss to the New York Rangers on Friday following a third-period fight with defenseman Tony DeAngelo. Okposo was held from practice for precautionary reasons, but coach Phil Housley said that his absence was not concussion related. He will travel with the team for its three-game road trip, which begins in New Jersey on Sunday.
Zach Bogosian and Linus Ullmark will also travel after taking maintenance days on Saturday, while Marco Scandella will remain in Buffalo to be re-evaluated for an injury.

Mittelstadt's absence came amid his most productive stretch of the season, one that saw him tally seven points (2+5) in 10 games. He practiced on a line with Evan Rodrigues and Sam Reinhart, the latter of whom he had been skating with prior to his injury.
"I just liked the way he was [playing] before he got injured," Housley said. "He was attacking the game. He was playing a 200-foot game, at both ends of the ice. His defense was really solid, and he was contributing offensively. … His game was in a really good place before he got hurt."
Housley has spoken highly of the extra work that Mittelstadt has put in off the ice to avoid the rookie pitfalls that can occur in the dog days of an NHL season. Mittelstadt said the high volume of games on the pro schedule has actually made it easier to establish a daily routine.
Mittelstadt credited his routine with helping him improve as the season has progressed. His 10-game output prior to his injury nearly matched the production of his first 45 games, when he tallied 12 points (6+6).
"I just try to stick with my routines and what I do," he said. "I've been sticking with it all year and I think maybe right away I didn't get the results I wanted, but before I got hurt I started playing better and making some plays.
"... I think it's important you find your routine and you stick with it whether you're playing good or bad. I feel like my routine has been the same for four or five years now and there's certain things I like to do, certain things I don't do. So, stick to your routine and stick with it, I think it usually figures itself out."
Mittelstadt has had the benefit of navigating his rookie year alongside Rasmus Dahlin. The two have lived together throughout the season, with veteran neighbors like Jack Eichel, Sam Reinhart and Jeff Skinner to help out with meals and other aspects of NHL life.

"They've done a really good job," Housley said. "Casey's done a good job of just doing some extra work with his fitness and Dahlin's doing a really good job of watching video and learning from his mistakes, so they don't happen again.
"And then off the ice they've done a good job. They live together, they hold each other accountable to a certain extent when they're away from the rink and take care of their bodies."

Saturday's practice

The Sabres got back to work following the loss to New York, which saw them deviate from the detail-oriented, defensive identity they had established in three games prior.
"We addressed it today," Housley said. "We had a good practice; the spirits were up. It's a time to reboot, refocus and get ready. We understand that when we can play the way we can play and have our details in order, we're a very good hockey team. When we're not, we seem to get the results that we got last game."
Jason Pominville said the loss was part of an ongoing education for a young team learning to play in the thick of a playoff race.
"Last night we were too easy to play against," Pominville said. "Didn't close quick enough in the D-zone, gave them too much time. When we're on our game, we're hard to play against. We defend hard, we limit their grade-A scoring chances and we're able to play in the O-zone because of it. I think we've just got to keep harping on it."
"… It's a lot of work, it's a lot of focus, but winning games is a lot of fun also so we've got to get back to it."
Here's how the Sabres lined up at practice, with rotating defense pairs:
53 Jeff Skinner - 9 Jack Eichel - 29 Jason Pominville
71 Evan Rodrigues - 37 Casey Mittelstadt - 23 Sam Reinhart
43 Conor Sheary - 22 Johan Larsson - 28 Zemgus Girgensons
49 C.J. Smith - 17 Vladimir Sobotka - 72 Tage Thompson
Defense: 19 Jake McCabe, 24 Lawrence Pilut, 26 Rasmus Dahlin, 48 Matt Hunwick, 55 Rasmus Ristolainen, 82 Nathan Beaulieu
40 Carter Hutton