Buffalo Sabres: Depth scoring shining in recent games
By Sion Fawkes
The Buffalo Sabres can score, as they’ve shown many times this season, but their lower lines have continued their own high-octane pace.
Ever since Tyson Jost joined the third line, Casey Mittelstadt and Victor Olofsson have at least looked halfway decent. And last night’s big win over the Minnesota Wild showed just how effective this trio can be, combining for six points to help the Blue and Gold win yet another thriller.
Let’s start with Casey Mittelstadt, who logged three assists in the win over Minnesota, putting him just two points from setting a career high. With 23 points in 37 contests, plus an already career-high of 16 assists, Mittelstadt is on pace for 51 points, 16 goals, and 35 assists. Clearly, this still disappointing for the former eighth overall pick, but a vast improvement from previous seasons.
Buffalo Sabres seeing production from their lower lines
Victor Olofsson scored the opening and the game-winning goals last night, giving him 15 on the season and 20 points overall. Olofsson started the season hot, but as he did last year, cooled off.
He did, however, regain his form during the second half of the season in 2021-22, so maybe that will be the case again when February rolls around. Or perhaps earlier? If he is indeed rearing for another hot streak, he’s off to a remarkable start.
And finally, we got Tyson Jost. Another former first round pick, Jost has unfortunately played under expectations, but he proved to be a solid waiver pickup. In his first 19 games with the Sabres, the Blue and Gold have gone 13-4-2, indicating that he has been one of many factors behind the team’s turnaround since November.
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Further, Jost also has eight points in those 19 games. Once again, these aren’t statistics to gush over, but they are definitely signs that he is holding up his end of the deal. Want more fun? Jost also has nine takeaways and 16 hits since joining the team.
(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference)
Article Source: Observations: ‘Special’ night for Sabres ends with Victor Olofsson’s goal in OT by Lance Lysowski
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