The Buffalo Sabres prospects tilted the shot meter heavily in their favor for the second straight night in the Prospects Challenge, but this time the New Jersey Devils capitalized on their limited opportunities in a 5-2 defeat. The Sabres outshot the Devils 34-14, controlling the play for much of the game. Goals by Tyler Tullio and Jiri Kulich were overshadowed by the loss, although it was an applauded effort.
The Devils defeated the Ottawa Senators prospects Friday night in a massive 8-1 routing. Tempered by the Sabres, New Jersey couldn’t manage a single shot on goal in the third period until Buffalo pulled the goaltender down a goal.
The Sabres notably lost two defensemen to injury in the game. They were already thin at the position, carrying only six blueliners throughout rookie camp.
Some of the same players stood out in the second game as in the first of the Prospects Challenge for the Sabres, but the night also saw other players step up. Let’s review some of the other impressive performances, aside from Kulich, Ryan Johnson, and Konsta Helenius.
Tyler Tullio
Tyler Tullio came over in the trade with Edmonton for Ryan McLeod, replacing top prospect Matthew Savoie in the prospect pool. He’s stepped into a new role as a center between Ethan Miedema and either Ty Cheveldayoff or Riley Fiddler-Schultz.
The change in position surprised the new addition to the organization. “This was a little bit of a surprise being placed at center,” Tullio said. “I’ve played wing my whole career.”
He scored a goal and earned praise from the coaching staff for his ability to win faceoffs, so the winger-turned-center hopes to have settled into a new role for the club.
Vsevolod Komarov
As far as impressions go, Vsevolod Komarov has been a go-to player on the Sabres’ blueline. He is the quarterback of the top powerplay unit and is playing the right side on a pair with top defenseman Ryan Johnson.
Komarov is a towering force at 6’4”, but don’t mistake the size for a lack of skill. He registered 69 points in 60 games in the QMJHL last season, leading all defensemen.
The combination of size and skill should not only bode well for his season outlook in Rochester but also for his NHL future with the Sabres.
Olivier Nadeau
The 2023-2024 season was a rough one for the Sabres’ fourth-round pick. He suffered an injury early in the season and was sent down to ECHL Jacksonville for 41 games.
He possesses a dynamic shot, and his low center of gravity makes him tough to move in front of the net. These qualities gave the coaching staff the confidence to put him net-front on the top powerplay unit. Playing with Komarov, Kulich, Isak Rosen, and Viktor Neuchev is high praise for the second-year pro.
The past two nights, Nadeau has shown a knack for being in the right areas for the puck to find him. He’s also relentless on the forecheck, which has created opportunities for his linemates. The forecheck has been a focus for the former 35-goal scorer in the QMJHL.
“Since I was little I was always the bigger guy on the ice,” Nadeau said. “So I like to forecheck.”
Next Game
The Sabres prospects return to the ice on Monday at 5:00 pm against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Penguins’ prospects are undefeated so far in the tournament, beating the Boston Bruins 6-3 and the Senators 4-2.
