Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images
Even NHL practices get heated sometimes, as the Buffalo Sabres showed on Monday.
The Sabres practised at Harborcenter following a 1-3-0 start to the season, including a 5-2 win over the Florida Panthers on Saturday at home.
According to reporters who attended the practice, Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin and Peyton Krebs had a brief scrum after colliding during a drill.
Sara Holland with News 4 Buffalo shared footage of the hit and ensuing scrum, where Dahlin appeared to attempt a hip check on Krebs. Both players then traded punches before teammates swiftly broke up the scrum.
Here’s the scrum that just went on in practice between Rasmus Dahlin and Peyton Krebs.
Looks like they collided at full speed during a drill.
Teammates broke it up right away. pic.twitter.com/bPAPnRnNvd
— Sara Holland (@SaraaHolland) October 14, 2024
There appears to be no hard feelings afterward.
“I think (Dahlin) got bumped before (the fight), and then he evened up to score,” Sabres coach Lindy Ruff told reporters after practice, according to The Hockey News’ Sabres site editor Michael Augello. “I wouldn’t read too much into that. We just want a competitive practice, so I think every now and then the emotions will run a little bit high, but that’s a good place to be.”
Scrapping in practice isn’t new. Detroit Red Wings teammates Lucas Raymond and Ben Chiarot got into it in March after losing six straight, and they appeared to exchange words before lining up for the next drill repetition.
One of the more memorable practice fights in recent memory came in the 2018-19 season when St. Louis Blues teammates Robert Bortuzzo and Zach Sanford had to be separated. When the Blues won the Stanley Cup later that season, Bortuzzo and Sanford hugged it out.
They tend to happen in the heat of the moment, but the Sabres aren’t where they want to be after dropping their first three games of the season. They lost both matches against the New Jersey Devils in Czechia during the NHL Global Series, and they lost their home-opener in Buffalo 3-1 against the Los Angeles Kings. The Sabres have only averaged two goals a game in their first four matchups, and their power play is 0-for-14.
Time will tell whether the intense practice leads to improved results in the standings. The Sabres’ next game is Wednesday against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Correction: A quote was corrected to be attributed to Lindy Ruff instead of Peyton Krebs.
Related: The Wraparound: Is The Buffalo Sabres’ Bad Start Cause For Concern?
Get the latest news and trending stories right to your inbox by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or by visiting our forum.
