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Buffalo Sabres: Dylan Cozens’ epic performance at Worlds

By Sion Fawkes|
Canada's forward Dylan Cozens (2nd L) scores 1-1 goal as Kazakhstan's defender Yegor Shalapov (L), Kazakhstan's goalkeeper Andrei Shutov (2nd R) and Kazakhstan's defender Adil Beketayev (R) try to stop him during the 2022 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championships preliminary round group A match between Canada and Kazakhstan in Helsinki on May 19, 2022. - Finland OUT (Photo by Jussi Nukari / Lehtikuva / AFP) / Finland OUT (Photo by JUSSI NUKARI/Lehtikuva/AFP via Getty Images)
Canada's forward Dylan Cozens (2nd L) scores 1-1 goal as Kazakhstan's defender Yegor Shalapov (L), Kazakhstan's goalkeeper Andrei Shutov (2nd R) and Kazakhstan's defender Adil Beketayev (R) try to stop him during the 2022 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championships preliminary round group A match between Canada and Kazakhstan in Helsinki on May 19, 2022. - Finland OUT (Photo by Jussi Nukari / Lehtikuva / AFP) / Finland OUT (Photo by JUSSI NUKARI/Lehtikuva/AFP via Getty Images)

Fans of the Buffalo Sabres have had the privilege to see some of their players dominating at the IIHF Worlds. Yesterday, it was Dylan Cozens’ turn.

Both players and coaches have represented the Buffalo Sabres well at the 2022 IIHF World Championships. While Rasmus Dahlin and Rasmus Asplund have had their moments for Team Sweden, Dylan Cozens is coming off of an epic performance for Team Canada in their latest victory against Kazakhstan.

Overall, the Workhorse from Whitehorse has five points in four games. But he went without a goal for the first three contests. That changed on Thursday, when Cozens scored a hat trick in the 6-3 victory.

Dylan Cozens of the Buffalo Sabres gets a hat trick against Kazakhstan

Cozens’ first goal came on a rebound. Blanketed by a defenseman, he showed phenomenal awareness in locating the puck and flipping it into the net on a wrist shot. The score knotted the game at one and it helped take Team Canada off upset alert for the time being.

The second goal occurred after Kazakhstan cut into Team Canada’s lead in the third period. Drake Batherson hit Damon Severson, who was wide open at the blue line. Severson found an open Batherson near the right circle before the latter snuck a pass through traffic to Cozens at the left-hand circle for a score off of a one-timer.

With less than a minute to go in the contest, Team Canada again took the puck up ice. This time, it was Pierre-Luc Dubois on the assist. Initially, it looked like Dubois would drive it home after Cozens found him on a back-pass behind the net.

Instead of sneaking one in from behind, Dubois instead found Cozens veering toward the right circle with a step on two Kazakhstan defensemen. Cozens finished the play, creeping the puck past the goaltender on a wrist shot.

Overall, it was a hard-earned hat trick for Cozens, with two of his three goals coming in the final ten minutes. Especially that last goal.

Cozens and Team Canada have their work cut out for them next as they enter a showdown with Team Switzerland. The winner of the contest will take full control of Group A in the standings.

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