Dylan Cozens, the rising star of the Ottawa Senators, is set to face his former team, the Buffalo Sabres, for the first time since his trade earlier this month. Cozens has rapidly become a pivotal player in the Senators’ quest for a playoff spot, with his goals and assists proving crucial in the team’s recent matches.
Having scored 31 goals in the 2022-23 season while with the Sabres, Cozens however never had the chance to prove his mettle in a playoff game as Buffalo has not made it to the postseason since 2011. Despite this, Cozens expressed his desire to have been a key player in turning the Sabres’ fortunes around. “I really wanted to be part of the solution in Buffalo,” he had admitted earlier.
Now, though, with the high-stakes opportunity in Ottawa, Cozens is eager to showcase his skills with the Senators. His excitement for the new journey was evident when he said, “It’s tough. But at the same time, there’s a very exciting opportunity in Ottawa, and I’m super excited to be part of the Sens.”
Cozens’ contribution to the Senators’ recent 3-2 victory against New Jersey, where he assisted Drake Batherson’s 20th goal of the season, helped the team dodge a third consecutive defeat. Batherson himself has been in a hot streak, netting six goals and 10 assists in the last 18 games.
On the Sabres’ side, JJ Peterka put forth a commendable performance during their 5-1 home win against Ottawa in November, where he scored two goals and an assist. Peterka also kicked off the scoring in their recent game against the Western Conference leader, Winnipeg, assisted by Ryan McLeod.
Sabres coach Lindy Ruff praised the team’s performance against Winnipeg, underlining their ability to compete against the best. Ruff said, “We showed we could play with (Winnipeg), and we played well.”
Rasmus Dahlin, the Sabres’ defenseman, also expressed his satisfaction with the team’s performance, citing the team’s continuous improvement. Dahlin, who has scored in the last two games, said, “Each and every one is battling out there. It’s good. We’re taking steps.”
The Sabres have been impressive at home, winning eight of their last 10 matches. Buffalo’s backup goaltender, James Reimer, made 33 saves in the recent game, while primary goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has been outstanding against Ottawa this season, stopping 72 of 73 shots in two victorious matches.
In other NHL news, the Pittsburgh Penguins are set to end their three-game season series against Tampa Bay on Florida’s Gulf Coast. Meanwhile, the Toronto Maple Leafs will aim to bounce back from a disappointing loss by hosting the Philadelphia Flyers. The Leafs will be looking to eliminate mistakes that resulted in a squandered 2-0 lead.