BUFFALO – Fourteen seconds into his first shift in nine weeks, Sabres winger Jordan Greenway signaled he would be a factor all afternoon by knocking New York Rangers defenseman Braden Schneider into the boards.
“I’m always trying to find a way to get engaged,” Greenway said following the Sabres’ 8-2 win in KeyBank Center. “Typically for me, it’s playing physical, finishing hits. It’s the easiest way for me to get into the game. I felt as if I wanted to come out, set the tone. That was the game plan for me.”
Greenway, 28, followed that plan throughout his first game since Dec. 15, registering a game-high six hits, including three in the first period, as the Sabres raced out to a commanding 5-0 lead.
“I was excited today, all week, truthfully,” said Greenway, who missed 23 games after undergoing surgery to repair a mid-body injury. “Yeah, I was fired up, no other way to say it.”
The Canton native’s dogged effort also created captain Rasmus Dahlin’s first goal 11:58 into the contest.
After shooting from the inside of the left circle, he chased down his own rebound and outmuscled Schneider in the corner to regain possession. He then utilized his 6-foot-6, 231-pound frame to protect the puck as he skated to the point before turning around and unleashing a shot.
The puck hit Dahlin in the slot areas and sailed past Rangers goalie Igor Shesterkin to put the Sabres up 2-0.
“Unbelievable,” Dahlin said of Greenway’s impact. “You saw that first goal. It was him just being strong on the puck. And their Ds really respect him, too, on the forecheck. He’s unbelievable for us. He’s been missing.”
The Sabres sorely missed Greenway’s aggressive, heavy game.
“I personally couldn’t wait to get him back,” Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said. “Just a big, strong, physical guy that can dictate play. So, from that standpoint, having him back is a big difference for us.”
