Since being acquired from the Buffalo Sabres earlier this month, Dylan Cozens has established himself as a key part of the Ottawa Senators’ playoff push.
Looking to continue his productive surge with the visiting Senators, Cozens faces the Sabres on Tuesday night for the first time since being traded.
The seventh overall pick by Buffalo in 2019, Cozens enjoyed some individual success at times, totaling 77 goals and 120 assists in 341 games with the Sabres from 2020 until he was dealt March 7.
Cozens recorded 31 of those goals in 2022-23, but never made a playoff appearance with Buffalo, which hasn’t been to the postseason since 2011.
Now in Ottawa, Cozens is part of a club that owns the top wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference and is in position to make the playoffs for the first time since 2017. He has already made an impact with three goals and four assists while the Senators (37-27-5, 79 points) are 6-2-0 during his time with the club.
“I really wanted to be part of the solution in Buffalo,” Cozens said earlier this month. “It’s tough. … But at the same time, there’s a very exciting opportunity in Ottawa, and I’m super excited to be part of the Sens.”
Cozens assisted on Drake Batherson’s 20th goal of the season as Ottawa avoided a third straight loss with Saturday’s 3-2 win at New Jersey. In addition to Cozens’ contributions, Batherson has six goals with 10 assists over an 18-game stretch for Ottawa.
Though Buffalo (28-35-6, 62 points) is last in the East, it has outscored Ottawa 9-1 in winning the first two season meetings between the clubs. Ridly Greig, who has four points in his last five games, scored the lone Senators’ goal against the Sabres.
JJ Peterka had two goals with an assist during Buffalo’s 5-1 home win over Ottawa on Nov. 5. He also opened the scoring Sunday at Western Conference-leading Winnipeg, on a goal assisted by Ryan McLeod, who had a goal with three assists during the 5-3 victory.
“We showed we could play with (Winnipeg), and we played well,” Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said.
Peterka has recorded seven goals with six assists in 12 games. McLeod has three goals and eight assists in his last nine games for Buffalo, which is 4-3-0 following an 0-5-1 slide.
“It’s been good,” said Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin, who has a point in each of the last two games. “Each and every one is battling out there. … It’s good. We’re taking steps.”
The Sabres have also won eight of the last 10 at home.
Buffalo backup James Reimer (3.00 goals-against average) made 33 saves Sunday. No. 1 option Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (3.16 GAA) has stopped 72 of 73 shots in winning both games versus Ottawa this season.
Ex-Sabre Linus Ullmark (2.78 GAA) made 25 saves at New Jersey for the Senators on Saturday. He stopped 29 of 34 shots at Buffalo in November. Teammate Anton Forsberg last started on March 11, but has a 2.03 goals-against average while winning three of his last five road starts.
–Field Level Media
