Dahlin stayed up late to watch his season-long partner Mattias Samuelsson, deep into a breakout campaign, play one of his best games yet. The defenseman recorded his first career three-point game, delivered six hits and blocked two shots in 24:56 of ice time.

The Sabres resumed their winning ways in returning from Christmas break on an accelerated path toward playoff contention. Playing without captain Rasmus Dahlin in the lineup, Buffalo’s other top-pair defenseman Mattias Samuelsson stepped up with a goal and two assists for the first three-point game of his career as Buffalo won

Staked to a 1-0 lead in the first period by a David Pastrnak goal, the Bruins were swept out to a frigid, blustery Lake Erie in the second, with the Sabres striking for three quick goals on Joonas Korpisalo in a span of 6:15

That may not be the case this year as the Sabres work their way onto the nice list with a seven-game winning streak. Earlier this season, I buried the Sabres in these very power rankings, and I underestimated how long the Eastern Conference standings would be a compressed mess.

Suppose a team takes a five-minute major penalty, and subsequently takes a two-minute minor penalty, resulting in two full minutes of five-on-three action. If the benefitting team scores on the two-man advantage, does the skater who committed the minor penalty get released from the penalty box?

Bowen Byram, who had three points and the game-winning overtime goal in Ottawa on Tuesday moved to the top pairing with Mattias Samuelsson at the club’s morning skate on Saturday and quarterbacked the first power-play unit. Jacob Bryson and Zach Metsa will play against the Bruins, and defenseman Ryan Johnson has been recalled from AHL Rochester.

The Boston Bruins know they have to be on their A-game to get the win on Saturday, especially after some travel issues. Boston returns after the Holiday break to take on the Buffalo Sabres on the road.