The Buffalo Sabres have made a tremendous turnaround this season. Earlier within the campaign, the team was in last place, resulting in the Sabres firing GM Kevyn Adams. Now the club has won nine of its last 12, is able to make the playoffs, and just defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 7-4. In that victory, Rasmus Dahlin had a profession first.
The Sabres captain, in his eighth 12 months with the franchise, recorded his first NHL hat trick against the Maple Leafs.
That is our Captain. 🤩
Congratulations to Rasmus Dahlin on his first-career hat trick tonight! pic.twitter.com/LIesJDq3jI
— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) January 28, 2026
Dahlin was the primary overall number of the 2018 NHL Draft by the Sabres. He broke into the NHL in 2018-19, playing in 557 regular-season games, finding the back of the online 94 times in his profession, but that is the primary time he has lit the lamp thrice in a single game.
The star blueliner scored mid-way through the primary period, tying the sport at one goal each. He got an assist late within the period as Josh Doan tied the sport at two. His second goal of the sport got here late within the second period, making it 4-3 in favor of Buffalo. Within the third period, he added his second assist of the sport, making it 6-3. Max Domi scored to make it 6-4, leading the Leafs to drag their goaltender late in the sport.
Chants of “Let’s go, Buffalo!” and “We would like seven!” echoed from the upper level of Scotiabank Arena as Sabres fans in Toronto cheered their team. Dahlin got them number seven, hitting the empty net and securing the hat trick. Adding to the moment is what Dahlin has been coping with in his personal life. He has returned to Sweden twice after his fiancée, Carolina Matovac, experienced heart failure that required a transplant. She also announced earlier this week that the couple lost their first child because of her medical event.
“The indisputable fact that he’s here playing hockey competing for us means the world to us. I believe that just speaks to his character, how much he loves the team, how much he desires to win. He’s not only playing. He’s leading by example. I can’t say enough good things about him and the mental strength you could have to should have the opportunity to do what he’s doing is pretty impressive,” teammate Tage Thompson told the media after the sport, per Matthew Fairburn of The Athletic.
Dahlin has been instrumental within the team’s turnaround. The Sabres at the moment are 30-17-5, which places them tied for third within the Atlantic Division. They return to the ice on Thursday, hosting the Los Angeles Kings.