BUFFALO – Let’s temper any excitement over the Sabres’ 7-3 win and winger JJ Peterka’s hat trick in Saturday’s preseason opener by noting the Pittsburgh Penguins brought their B or C squad to KeyBank Center.
The Sabres, meanwhile, dressed what resembled a regular-season lineup featuring perhaps their top two lines and No. 1 goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen.
An emphatic victory was almost expected. Following a slow start, the Sabres began annihilating the visitors, scoring five times in a stretch of 4:40 early in the second period to break a 1-1 tie and pull away. At one point, they beat goalie Joel Blomqvist on three consecutive shots.
“I really liked the compete,” Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said. “I thought we were a little bit slow off the start, but I thought from a compete standpoint, 50-50 battles, I thought we really found our game.”
Peterka completed his hat trick 5:26 into the second period, tipping top center Tage Thompson’s shot in the slot. Peterka’s power-play goal, a tip of winger Jack Quinn’s shot in the right circle, tied the game early. The German also scored from the left circle early in the second period.
The Sabres, of course, hope Peterka’s exploits are a harbinger for the regular season. Fresh off a 28-goal breakout campaign, he skated at left wing Saturday alongside Thompson and Alex Tuch, a spot he occupied late last season.
Peterka likely has a spot on the No. 1 line to lose.
“I still don’t know a lot about him,” said Ruff, who was hired in April. “I’ve been able to watch them for a short period of time now. He had a great year last year and I think, with confidence, I don’t know what the ceiling is.”
That ceiling appears to be very high.
Playing in Ruff’s aggressive system could help buoy the speedy Peterka. Ruff wants his defense to activate and be more involved, a style that should help his forwards.
“That was part of the game plan, too, get the D more involved,” Peterka said. “The D were shooting a lot more, I feel like, from the point, looking for sticks, too. Yeah, I think just overall forwards and D were playing more together.”
The Sabres’ new fourth line comprised of center Sam Lafferty between Beck Malenstyn and Nicolas Aube-Kubel showcased some of the speed and grit they’re expected to contribute this season.
Aube-Kubel registered four hits, a game-high total that tied teammate Dylan Cozens. In the third period, Aube-Kubel knocked Vasily Ponomarev into the boards. After a few moments on the ice, the rookie skated to the bench.
Lafferty scored at the net in the second period, connecting on a rebound Malenstyn created when he drove to the net. Aube-Kubel also recorded an assist on the play.
“I thought they had a great night,” Ruff said of the trio. “I mean, it’s like a running game in football. They got the puck down low, they hung on to it. They couldn’t take the puck away from when they made five or six great plays for scoring opportunities. But the puck possession was I think something that can wear a team down.”
Notes: Cozens and defensemen Henri Jokiharju and Owen Power scored the Sabres’ other goals. Jokiharju also assisted on Peterka’s first two goals. … The Sabres outshot the Penguins 43-18. … Sabres rookie Jiri Kulich, who’s being awarded an opportunity to crack the big club, recorded an assist on Power’s goal. Kulich, a natural center, skated at left wing alongside center Peyton Krebs and Lukas Rousek. He also skated on the second power-play unit. … Cozens, Thompson and Tuch all served as alternate captains. … The Sabres announced a crowd of 12,013 fans. … The Sabres have a day off today and host the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday. They leave for their European trip Tuesday night.
