4 check: Eric Robinson addition sparks Sabres energy line

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Last week’s trade for Eric Robinson was met with skepticism by many Sabres fans coveting a splashier addition to a forward group depleted by injuries and struggling to find competitive consistency. Robinson arrived in Buffalo without a goal this season, having been often scratched for the only other team in the Eastern Conference with a record worse than the Sabres.

The seventh-year veteran, however, has infused Buffalo’s checking line with energy. The result has been a three-game point streak, two victories and a shootout loss, during which the Sabres have played their preferred style of hockey more regularly than past stretches through the first third of the season.

Robinson’s impact showed up on the scoresheet in Monday’s 5-2 win against the Arizona Coyotes at KeyBank Center. He was the game’s first star, with a goal and two assists. Revitalized linemate Kyle Okposo had a similar three-point night, and fourth-line center Peyton Krebs got his second goal of the season.

Okposo recognized Robinson’s skating speed and workmanlike game within the first few shifts of his Sabres debut in Boston, which the Buffalo won 3-1.

“He plays the right way every shift,” Okposo said. “And that’s something that you can’t have enough guys like that.”

“He’s been slashing and winning battles,” the Sabres captain added. “Opened Krebsy up to make some plays, myself getting the puck in time and space too, when you have a guy like that on your line, it’s invaluable, for sure.”

Sabres coach Don Granato said that Robinson’s style has influenced the entire team, not just his checking linemates. “High compete rubs off,” Granato said. “The more you have that the more it drags guys into the fight.”

Robinson, whose only other three-point game in his NHL career came in Buffalo last February when he was playing for Columbus, described his first week with the Sabres as a whirlwind.

“But really exciting,” Robinson said. “And getting to play with Okie and Krebsy’s made it easy. They’ve been playing hard and straightaway and talking to me all night, so that’s made the transition for me a lot easier.”

Granato hopes the fourth line can drive similar success further up the lineup. “If we can commit to playing that way, skill will follow,” Granato said. “If you think you can skill first, you’ll have a very frustrating time as we’ve had.”

Quick start

Okposo’s goal, his fifth in 10 games after going scoreless through the first 19, came at 2:25 into the first period. Crashing the net, the captain knocked in the rebound from Robinson’s shot on the rush.

The Sabres (12-14-3) never relinquished the lead, and improved to 9-1-1 when scoring first.

“It’s really nice to play with a lead,” Okposo said. “We haven’t done that a lot, especially at home. And it just makes the game simpler. You’re not on your heels, you’re not chasing the game.”

Granato said the Sabres “finally have the feel of the right urgency and the right way to play,” after being outscored 36-19 in the previous 28 first periods.

Closing it out

JJ Peterka scored his 12th goal late in the second period, matching his tally in 77 games as a rookie last season, and equaling Jeff Skinner for the team lead.

Rasmus Dahlin assisted on Peterka’s goal, and scored his seventh into an empty net late to bring his season point total to 24, surpassing Casey Mitteltstadt on the Sabres’ leaderboard.

Connor Clifton assisted on Okposo and Robinson’s goals, giving him four assists over the past three games.

Devon Levi needed to make only 21 saves, a few with high degree of difficulty. Since being recalled from the minors, the rookie goaltender has gone 2-0-1 with a .942 save % and 1.67 goals-against average.

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Jonah Bronstein joined the WIVB squad in 2022 as a digital sports reporter. The Buffalonian has covered the Bills, Sabres, Bandits, Bisons, colleges, high schools and other notable sporting events in Western New York since 2005, for publications including The Associated Press, The Buffalo News, and Niagara Gazette. Read more of his work here.

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