Dahlin: Sabres 'look like a real team now' after beating Golden Knights

Rasmus Dahlin believes his Buffalo Sabres have turned a corner following a 4-3 shootout victory over the Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday.

"(This is) a step in the right direction, for sure," the defenseman told reporters postgame. "Now we look like a team."

Dahlin tied the game with a slap shot from the point with 13.6 seconds remaining in the third period.

The game was certainly chippy: Buffalo took exception when Golden Knights forward Brett Howden levelled Sabres rookie Jiri Kulich in the second period. Center Peyton Krebs took Howden on in the aftermath, earning a minor penalty for instigating, a fighting major, and a 10-minute misconduct.

Buffalo forward Jordan Greenway and Vegas' Keegan Kolesar also earned fighting majors for scrapping in the middle stanza.

"You clearly see we're a bit of a different team now with Krebs today (and) Greener," Dahlin said. "We're stepping up for each other and we look like a real team now. This is the start of something good, I think."

The Golden Knights had a chance to seal a win with an empty-netter before Dahlin tied it, but Tomas Hertl passed up the opportunity to try to get teammate Jack Eichel, the ex-captain of the Sabres, a goal. The tally would have been Eichel's second of the afternoon.

Dahlin didn't take Hertl's attempt to help Eichel score against his former team personally, however.

"I couldn't care less if (Hertl) tried to disrespect or anything," the Sabres' current captain said. "We got the win and that's all that matters. I'm happy he was unselfish."

The Sabres improved to 26-33-6 but remain in last place in both the Atlantic Division and the Eastern Conference. The Golden Knights fell to 39-19-8, but they still have a comfortable lead in the Pacific Division.