Sharpen Up: October 8, 2021 | Owen Power, Michigan open season tonight

The preseason ends for the Buffalo Sabres tomorrow when the Detroit Red Wings come to town.
Faceoff is at 3 p.m. on MSG and WGR 550. Pregame coverage on MSG will begin at 2:30.
Tickets for the game are on sale now.
Buffalo will practice today in preparation for the game. The regular-season opener is set for Thursday, October 14 against the Montreal Canadiens at KeyBank Center. Tickets for that game are also on sale at this link.
Here's what you need to know.

Thursday's practice

After a day off on Wednesday, Sabres coach Don Granato put the team through a long practice session yesterday that lasted almost two hours.
Sabres.com's Jourdon LaBarber has the story:
"Guys that we have in there, they just love the game," Kyle Okposo said afterward.
"We just had a practice out there and guys are saying, 'No, let's keep going. We want to keep going.' And then guys are staying on the ice after, and guys just want to play hockey. I think that's going to be pretty infectious for our room."
The Sabres have embraced an up-tempo training camp as they work to establish an identity under coach Don Granato, the basic tenets of which are speed and relentless, fearless puck pressure.

Zemgus Girgensons, the longest-tenured Sabres player, said following the opening practice that it was the highest pace he had seen to begin a camp. Goaltender Craig Anderson echoed that sentiment, admitting the intensity has been a notch above what he's grown accustomed to during an 18-year career.
All of it has been for a purpose.
"The message has been play hard, play physical, play with enthusiasm," Anderson said. "I think that's kind of the message. If we sit on our heels, that's where problems happen. So, if you're gonna make a mistake, make it skating. Make it being aggressive, trying to make something (happen)."
For injury updates and more, check out the full Practice Report.

Stay tuned to Sabres.com for updates from today's practice heading into tomorrow's game.

Amerks start preseason

Buffalo also made a few roster moves after practice. Forwards Jack Quinn, Buffalo's top pick in 2020, and Brett Murray were assigned to Rochester. Goaltender Aaron Dell and defenseman Justin Schuldt joined them after they cleared waivers.
Rochester will play its first preseason game tonight on the road against Utica.

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Michigan begins season tonight

Defenseman Owen Power, the first-overall pick in the 2021 NHL Draft by the Sabres, begins his sophomore season with the No. 3-ranked Michigan Wolverines tonight.
Power is one of five Wolverines to be selected in the first round of this year's draft. Four Michigan players went in the top five.
Last year, Power posted three goals and 13 assists in 26 games and led the team with 40 blocked shots.

Michigan opens the season with a two-game set against the Lake Superior State Lakers. Faceoff tonight from Yost Ice Arena in Ann Arbor is at 7:30 p.m. The game can be seen on B1G+.
Sabres goaltending prospect Erik Portillo is the team's starting goaltender.