Topical Sabres Notebook: Robert Hagg has a block party on defense in opener By Mike Harrington News Sports Reporter Oct 15, 2021 Oct 15, 2021 Updated Feb 17, 2026 0 Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save The dirtiest work on the stat sheet from the Buffalo Sabres' opener? An easy call. kAmx? 9:D 563FE H:E9 E96 E62>[ 5676?D6>2? #@36CE w288 3=@4<65 2 82>6\9:89 D:I D9@ED 2?5 A=2J65 ?62C=J b½ >:?FE6D @7 A6?2=EJ\<:==:?8 E:>6 @FE @7 9:D E@E2= @7 `h >:?FE6D[ c` D64@?5D] %9C66 @7 9:D 3=@4<D 42>6 @? @?6 D64@?5\A6C:@5 A6?2=EJ]k^AmkAmQ%92EVD H92E xV> ECJ:?8 E@ 3C:?8 6G6CJ ?:89E[ A=2J 92C5[ A=2J A9JD:42= 2?5 3=@4<:?8 D9@ED H96? J@F 92G6 E@ 5@ E92E[Q D2:5 w288[ H9@ A=2J65 E96 =2DE 7@FC J62CD :? !9:=256=A9:2 2?5 H2D 24BF:C65 :? yF=J 2D A2CE @7 E96 #2D>FD #:DE@=2:?6? EC256] Qx E9:?< E92EVD D@>6E9:?8 6G6CJ3@5J 42? 5@] x 5@?VE <?@H :7 x 42? D2J x H2D =F4<J =2DE ?:89E E@ 3=@4< 2 4@FA=6 3FE :EVD A2CE @7 >J 82>6 2?5 x EC:65 E@ 5@ E92E E@ 96=A E96 E62> H:?]k^Am People are also reading… Work on Exit 39 truck stop expected to move more quickly now Smyth supervisors expected to take up junkyard permit request Smyth officials urge US Forest Service to reopen Grindstone Campground New attorney is representing Wolfe as case moves forward Spanberger signs Virginia minimum wage increase Top Smyth DAR essay wins state competition Royal Oak DAR names 3 high school seniors as Good Citizens Chilhowie switches to biodegradable bags for yard waste Spanberger signs bills on probation, manufactured protein and Confederate license plates Virginia football QB Chandler Morris denied preliminary injunction in pursuit of 7th year Chilhowie man faces multiple charges in domestic violence incident Manhunt ends with fatal shooting of Henry County suspect After 888 days, Smyth Animal Rescue dog finds her home $1M goal for Smyth County HealthTrust scholarship fund is near Trump issues an expletive-filled threat against Iran as details of US aviator's rescue emerge kAmQ|J 82>6 H:E9@FE E96 AF4< 92D 2=H2JD 366? >J DEC6?8E9] #:89E ?@H x H2?E E@ <66A AFD9:?8 E92E 3FE x H2?E E@ DE:== E2<6 2?@E96C DE6A 2?5 A=2J H:E9 E96 AF4<[ >2<6 A=2JD[ E96 4@CC64E A=2JD 2E E96 C:89E E:>6] p?5 ;FDE 6G@=G6 2D 2 A=2J6C]Qk^AmkAmw288 :D 72>:=:2C H:E9 z6Jq2?< r6?E6C 7C@> 9:D 52JD H:E9 E96 u=J6CD 2?5 D2:5 96 H2D AF>A65 3J E96 2E>@DA96C6 96 D2H 96C6 %9FCD52J 6G6? E9@F89 E96 2??@F?465 2EE6?52?46 H2D @?=J 2 D9256 @G6C g[c__]k^AmkAmQ{2DE ?:89E H2D 2>2K:?8[Q w288 D2:5] QtDA64:2==J :? E96 E9:C5 A6C:@5[ E96J DE2CE65 D:?8:?8 2?5 4966C:?8] xE H2D F?36=:6G23=6] p 4@FA=6 @7 8FJD 42>6 FA @? E96 36?49 2?5 D2:5[ Vx 92G6?VE D66? E9:D 7@C 2 =@?8 E:>6]V vFJD H6C6 ;FDE =2F89:?8 23@FE :E 2?5 92G:?8 7F? H:E9 :E] *@FVC6 24EF2==J D:EE:?8 @? E96 36?49 :? E96 E9:C5 A6C:@5[ 92G:?8 8@@D63F>AD H96? E96J DE2CE D:?8:?8 2?5 4=2AA:?8 2?5 2== E92E[ D@ :E H2D 2 =@E @7 7F?]Qk^Am kAmkDEC@?8mr@K6?DV 3:8 324<4964<k^DEC@?8mk^AmkAmp?@E96C F?DF?8 A=2J 7C@> E96 @A6?6Cn sJ=2? r@K6?DV 7FC:@FD 324<4964< E@ DE62= E96 AF4< 7C@> |@?EC62=VD y@D9 p?56CD@? :? E96 ?6FEC2= K@?6 2?5 86E :E 8@:?8 E96 @E96C H2J] xE ?6G6C =67E E96 |@?EC62= 6?5 2D ':4E@C ~=@7DD@?VD A@H6C\A=2J 8@2= 82G6 E96 $23C6D 2 b\` =625 2?5 AFE E96> :? 492C86 7@C <66AD] r@K6?D 925 366? @? E96 36?49 7@C D6G6C2= >:?FE6D @7 C62= E:>6 5F6 E@ A6?2=E:6D E92E ?66565 E@ 36 <:==65 D@ 3@E9 96 2?5 4@249 s@? vC2?2E@ H6C6 :E49:?8 E@ 86E 9:> 324< @? E96 :46]k^AmkAmQpD D@@? 2D x 8@E @FE 282:?[ x H2?E65 E@ >2<6 2? :>A24E[Q r@K6?D D2:5] Qw6 H2D D<2E:?8 E96 AF4< 2?5 x E9@F89E 96 H2D 8@:?8 E@ :46[ E96? H6?E E@ D<2E6 E96 AF4<[ D@ x ;FDE EC24<65 324< 2D 92C5 2D x 4@F=5[ DEC:AA65 E96 AF4< 7C@> 9:> 2?5 H6 H6?E E96 @E96C H2J]k^Am kAmQw6 324<4964<65[ DEC:AA65 E96 AF4<[ 4C62E65 E96 @AA@CEF?:EJ 7@C E96 8@2= E92E 3642>6 2 3:8 8@2=[ 56?:65 >@>6?EF> E96 @E96C H2J 2?5 @3G:@FD=J 4C62E65 >@>6?EF> @FC H2J[Q vC2?2E@ D2:5] Q$@ 2 DF3E=6EJ 3FE 2 3:8 A=2J :? E96 82>6 2E 2 3:8 >@>6?E] ]]] w6VD >2EFC:?8 367@C6 @FC 6J6D[ 96 C62==J :D] w6VD A:4<:?8 FA >@C6 56E2:=[ A=2J:?8 92C56C 2?5 96VD 6=6G2E:?8 9:D 82>6 2?5 82>6 :?E6?D:EJ]Qk^AmkAmkDEC@?8mp=F>?: C6A@CEk^DEC@?8mk^AmkAm• %H@ 7@C>6C $23C6D H:== >2<6 E96:C 7:CDE C6EFC? G:D:ED E@ qF772=@ H:E9 E96 pC:K@?2 r@J@E6D 7@C $2EFC52JVD 82>6]k^Am kAmv@2=:6 r2CE6C wFEE@?[ H9@ D:8?65 2 @?6\J62C[ Sfd_[___ 4@?EC24E H:E9 pC:K@?2 :? E96 @77D62D@?[ 8@E E96 DE2CE :? %9FCD52JVD @A6?6C 2E r@=F>3FD 3FE 8@E D96==65 :? 2? g\a =@DD 2D 96 DE@AA65 @?=J `g @7 ae D9@ED] x? E96 H2<6 @7 E92E @?6[ 324<FA z2C6= '6;>6=<2 >2J 86E 9:D }w{ 563FE :? ?6E]k^Am kAmp=D@ C6EFC?:?8 :D 46?E6C y@92? {2CDD@?[ H9@ D:8?65 2 EH@\J62C[ Sa]g >:==:@? 4@?EC24E H:E9 E96 r@J@E6D :? a_a_] {2CDD@? 925 6:89E 8@2=D 2?5 D:I 2DD:DED :? da 82>6D =2DE J62C[ 2?5 8@E 2? 2DD:DE @? @?6 @7 E96 EH@ pC:K@?2 8@2=D %9FCD52J]k^AmkAm• $2> #6:?92CE D<2E65 `giba 3FE 925 ?@ A@:?ED :? 9:D 7:CDE 82>6 7@C E96 u=@C:52 !2?E96CD[ 2 d\c @G6CE:>6 H:? %9FCD52J @G6C !:EED3FC89] p?@E96C 7@C>6C $23C6[ tG2? #@5C:8F6D[ 925 2 8@2= 2?5 D6G6? D9@ED @? 8@2= :? E96 82>6 7@C E96 !6?8F:?D]k^Am kAm• s676?D6>2? #2D>FD #:DE@=2:?6?[ H9@> E96 $23C6D EC2565 E@ 24BF:C6 w288 2?5 2 7:CDE\C@F?5 A:4< =2DE yF=J[ >:DD65 uC:52JVD D62D@? @A6?6C H:E9 !9:=256=A9:2 282:?DE '2?4@FG6C H:E9 2? FAA6C\3@5J :?;FCJ] #:DE@=2:?6? 5:5[ 9@H6G6C[ E2<6 E96 >@C?:?8 D<2E6 2?5 4@F=5 A=2J 2D D@@? 2D |@?52JVD 82>6 282:?DE $62EE=6]k^Am kAm• {:?FD &==>2C< H:== 36 E96 324<FA 8@2=:6 7@C q@DE@? :? $2EFC52JVD D62D@? @A6?6C 282:?DE s2==2D 2D E96 qCF:?D @AE65 E@ DE2CE y6C6>J $H2J>2?] %96 qCF:?D 2C6 96C6 E@ >66E E96 $23C6D ~4E] aa] $H2J>2? AFE FA 2 ]hba D2G6 A6C46?E286 :? E96 AC6D62D@? H9:=6 &==>2C< DECF88=65 >:89E:=J 2E ]gbh[ E96 7@FCE9\H@CDE >2C< 2>@?8 E96 af }w{ 8@2=:6D H9@ A=2J65 2E =62DE `__ >:?FE6D :? E96 AC6D62D@?]k^Am kAmQyFDE 8@EE2 E:89E6? FA[” qCF:?D 4@249 qCF46 r2DD:5J D2:5 E9:D H66< H96? 2D<65 23@FE &==>2C<] “$@>6 AF4<D 2C6 7:?5:?8 E96:C H2J E9C@F89 2?5 7@C 2 3:8 >2?[ E92E’== 36 2 492==6?86] %92E’D 9@H 2 =@E @7 8@2=:6D 2C6 ;F5865] s@ E96J 86E 362E H:E9 8@@5 D9@ED @C 2C6 E96J 86EE:?8 E9C@F89 J@FnQk^AmkAmkDEC@?8m$2EFC52JVD AC@>@E:@?Dk^DEC@?8mk^Am kAm%96 82>6 :D 36:?8 3:==65 2D Qw2CG6DE u6DE[Q H:E9 72>:=J\E96>65 72== 24E:G:E:6D 36:?8 762EFC65] &A E@ 7@FC <:5D E:4<6ED 42? 36 AFC492D65 2E S`d 6249 H:E9 E96 AFC492D6 @7 @?6 C68F=2C\AC:465 25F=E E:4<6E]k^Am kAm%96C6 H:== 36 2 !2CEJ :? E96 !=2K2 368:??:?8 2E `` 2]>] H:E9 >FD:4[ 7@@5 2?5 5C:?< 2D H6== 2D 24E:G:E:6D =:<6 2 A6EE:?8 K@@ 2?5 AF>A<:?\42CG:?8 56>@?DEC2E:@?] %96 7:CDE d[___ <:5D :? 2EE6?52?46 H:== C646:G6 w2==@H66? E@E6D] p== 72?D H:== C646:G6 2 4@>>6>@C2E:G6 >28?6E D4965F=6]k^Am 0 Comments Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Observations: Rasmus Dahlin a 'special player' as Sabres start season 2-0 The Sabres (2-0) started the season with consecutive wins for the first time since 2019-20. Sabres' shuffling at center yields promising results through two games “All our guys need experience, they need situations. It’s the only way they’re going to learn," coach Don Granato said. Mike Harrington: The Sabres are suddenly annoying on the ice – in a very good way "Anybody on the other side of the ice expecting an easy night is forewarned: The first step to respectability is not giving opponents a night … Beaches of LA are gone, but Christian Wolanin is happy to be with Buffalo Sabres Wolanin will wear No. 86 for the Sabres, a first in franchise annals. He spent a good deal of time at Monday's practice on defense with Colin … Two key injuries quickly shake Buffalo Sabres back to reality after big opening night When the Sabres hit the ice for Saturday's matinee against the Arizona Coyotes, they're going to do it without their No. 1 center and half of … Mike Harrington: In stellar opener, the connection was back between Sabres and fans Connection is a word that resonates in Buffalo Sabres history. We saw it again in a season opener nothing short of stunning. Mike Harrington: Sabres' box office might take the biggest hit from another non-playoff year "A confluence of factors – led, of course, by the team's 10-year playoff drought – has cratered season ticket sales to a point the franchise h… Observations: With all eyes on young core, Sabres veterans shine in opening win The Sabres rode a 30-save performance by 40-year-old goalie Craig Anderson to a 5-1 season-opening win over the Montreal Canadiens. Sabres aim to develop, win as young core takes center stage in 2021-22 "We’ve got to really work to score, and we’ve got to do it together," Rasmus Dahlin said. With questions abound, Sabres determined to show they're ready to succeed “We are a tight group and we know what we expect from each other,” Rasmus Dahlin said. “And everyone’s talking about the same stuff. Like, we … Driven to build a winner, Don Granato applying past lessons to improve young Sabres “I think as you watch us, you'll see that night to night we'll be getting better and more efficient in different areas, and eventually it will… Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | Omny Studio Recommended for you Watch Now: Related Video Speculating on the Top NFL Draft Picks and Trade Options Hokies' Stevens on holding lunch pail Hokies' Stevens on holding lunch pail Top MLB Teams Ranked for 2026 Season Top MLB Teams Ranked for 2026 Season Aaron Boone Explains How The Yankees Fixed Their Baserunning | 1342 Aaron Boone Explains How The Yankees Fixed Their Baserunning | 1342
Observations: Rasmus Dahlin a 'special player' as Sabres start season 2-0 The Sabres (2-0) started the season with consecutive wins for the first time since 2019-20.
Sabres' shuffling at center yields promising results through two games “All our guys need experience, they need situations. It’s the only way they’re going to learn," coach Don Granato said.
Mike Harrington: The Sabres are suddenly annoying on the ice – in a very good way "Anybody on the other side of the ice expecting an easy night is forewarned: The first step to respectability is not giving opponents a night …
Beaches of LA are gone, but Christian Wolanin is happy to be with Buffalo Sabres Wolanin will wear No. 86 for the Sabres, a first in franchise annals. He spent a good deal of time at Monday's practice on defense with Colin …
Two key injuries quickly shake Buffalo Sabres back to reality after big opening night When the Sabres hit the ice for Saturday's matinee against the Arizona Coyotes, they're going to do it without their No. 1 center and half of …
Mike Harrington: In stellar opener, the connection was back between Sabres and fans Connection is a word that resonates in Buffalo Sabres history. We saw it again in a season opener nothing short of stunning.
Mike Harrington: Sabres' box office might take the biggest hit from another non-playoff year "A confluence of factors – led, of course, by the team's 10-year playoff drought – has cratered season ticket sales to a point the franchise h…
Observations: With all eyes on young core, Sabres veterans shine in opening win The Sabres rode a 30-save performance by 40-year-old goalie Craig Anderson to a 5-1 season-opening win over the Montreal Canadiens.
Sabres aim to develop, win as young core takes center stage in 2021-22 "We’ve got to really work to score, and we’ve got to do it together," Rasmus Dahlin said.
With questions abound, Sabres determined to show they're ready to succeed “We are a tight group and we know what we expect from each other,” Rasmus Dahlin said. “And everyone’s talking about the same stuff. Like, we …
Driven to build a winner, Don Granato applying past lessons to improve young Sabres “I think as you watch us, you'll see that night to night we'll be getting better and more efficient in different areas, and eventually it will…
