Practice Report | Sabres finding their rhythm ahead of homestand

In the first two games of the season, the Sabres faced two defensive-minded teams in the Islanders and New York Rangers, who have a similar style of play.

After practice, Granato stressed the importance of playing against that style early in the regular season as the team gets back in the swing of things.

“I think that’s great for us. … You have to earn every inch of the ice, the details will matter, and you have to get comfortable playing a hard-checking game,” Granato said. “We know if the other team wanted to open it up, we’re comfortable in that game. So, I think having those two opponents and those styles of play to start the season are a good thing. Obviously, time will tell, but I think they’re a good thing.”

On Tuesday, the Sabres will host the Tampa Bay Lightning and Granato expects their style of play to open up the ice more. As a result, the group will prepare a little differently than it did for the first two contests.

“They have talent that can go up and down the rink and they’re confident and comfortable,” Granato said. “…The talent they have is still something you have to respect and prepare for and we’ll just prepare a little bit differently than we would have for Game 1 or 2.”

Tickets for Tuesday’s game are available here.

The game will be exclusively televised on ESPN with faceoff scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Dan Dunleavy and Rob Ray will have the radio call on WGR 550.

Here are more notes from Monday’s practice at KeyBank Center.