Buffalo Sabres: 3 players who impressed in the season-opener

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Oct 6, 2023; Buffalo, New York, USA; Buffalo Sabres right wing JJ Peterka (77) celebrates his goal with teammates during the second period against the Pittsburgh Penguins at KeyBank Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports /

3 – JJ Peterka

Perhaps no one on the Buffalo Sabres enjoyed a better outing than JJ Peterka, yet thanks to the blowout loss, it’s hard to claim Peterka was out there enjoying himself. Peterka only logged a pair of shots, including one shot on goal that found twine. But he also shined defensively, logging a takeaway and finishing the contest with a plus-1.

Peterka, like most of the Buffalo Sabres, found themselves trapped in the defensive zone for long stretches, so to see the winger pitch in a solid defensive performance is nothing short of encouraging. I’m looking for a breakout year for the 21-year-old following an epic IIHF World Championship more than a few months back, and so far, he’s 1 for 1.

Related Story. Dear Buffalo Sabres Fans: No need to overreact following one game. light

Overall, the Sabres didn’t play their best game, but we’ve seen them play well for ages in October, and that never amounted to anything. But it didn’t mean a few players didn’t put up decent performances, and those listed in today’s piece are off to an outstanding start in the 2023-24 season.

Source: Observations: Sabres’ season-opening loss a reminder that ‘simplifying’ is key by Lance Lysowski, Buffalo News

(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference)

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