Sabres’ Rasmus Dahlin, Tage Thompson can use 4 Nations for extra Olympic motivation

“It was tough watching the game yesterday,” Dahlin said following Friday’s practice in LECOM Harborcenter, his first session after returning to the Sabres. “I wish I was there. I believe we could have played better.”

Sabres winger Tage Thompson, Dahlin’s good friend, was lucky enough to be in Boston watching a contest that will likely be remembered as an international classic.

Following Wednesday’s practice in Buffalo, Thompson received a call from USA Hockey, beginning what he called “a pretty wild roller coaster.” The Americans wanted the Sabres’ leading scorer to fly to Boston and join their 4 Nations squad to serve as an extra player in case of emergency.

“It was pretty out of the blue,” Thompson, whose Sabres host the New York Rangers on Saturday afternoon, said of his invitation. “I had a couple talks with my agents prior that it could be a possibility. I didn’t really think it was going to happen.”

In the end, Thompson wasn’t needed. He’s grateful, however, he got to go.

“Just being there was pretty cool, being around the guys a little bit and watch the game live,” he said.

Dahlin believes the US would’ve won if Thompson had suited up.

“I was really pumped for him,” he said. “I would love to see him out there. I believe he would be the one that would score in OT and USA would’ve won. So it was unreal. I wish he would’ve played.”

What Dahlin, 24, and Thompson, 27, each experienced at the 4 Nations will provide extra motivation for them throughout the next year.

NHL players will be returning to the Olympics in 2026. Dahlin is a virtual lock to play in the Milano Cortina Games. Thompson, however, could be on the bubble again.

“That’s a big goal of mine is to make that team,” Thompson said. “I think being there and watching it, just feeling the emotion and energy in the building just makes you want to be on that team even more.

“Obviously, it was cool watching it on TV, but it’s a whole other animal being there live and feeling the energy from the crowd and the passion. To be able to just kind of picture yourself on the ice gives you chills. That would be pretty amazing.”

Sabres coach Lindy Ruff, who has served as an assistant coach for Canada at two Olympics, knows how valuable participating in best-on-best international events can be for players and coaches.

“I think it should make a world of difference,” he said of what it can do for players. “I know as a coach, when you’re in there and you’re sharing it with four other coaches, how much you can improve and different thoughts and what that group did for me from Jacques Lemaire to Claude Julien to Mike Babcock, sharing ideas with those guys in a two-week window. …

“As a player, they get to see some of the best in the world, how they prepare, the work they do, the off-ice (preparation). And I think it’ll make all those guys better players, and they’ll lend that to their teammates and it should make teammates better.”

Besides Dahlin, only one Sabres player, defenseman Henri Jokiharju, played games at the 4 Nations.

Jokiharju, a late add to Team Finland’s roster, scored his team’s first goal. He has scored just once in 39 NHL games this season.

“I’m really happy for him,” said Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, who served as Finland’s third netminder. “I didn’t have that on my bingo card, and it’s really good to see. I think he played really good and kind of showed what he could do on the ice.”

Dahlin said he blocked one of Jokiharju’s shots.

“He kind of destroyed one of my elbows,” he said. “It really hurt. Henri played really, really well.”

Luukkonen, meanwhile, did not dress for any of Finland’s games.

“I thought it was weird Upie wasn’t playing,” Dahlin said. “I believe he earned it.”

Ruff said the Sabres, who haven’t played since Feb. 8, should have their entire roster available against the Rangers in KeyBank Center.

Winger Beck Malenstyn, who has missed the last two games battling back spasms, and winger Jordan Greenway, who has missed the last 22 contests after undergoing surgery to repair a mid-body injury, both practiced again Friday.