For Mark Friedman, fighting for an NHL spot is old hat. For Max Sasson, it’s a brand new thing.
Mark Friedman’s face after Thursday’s dominant 4-0 win over the Florida Panthers said it all: scrapes and cuts on his cheeks and chin framing a great big smile.
Exactly what a player in his position, fighting for an NHL job, needs to do.
Max Sasson is in a similar spot, though the experience is all new to him: he’s a raw rookie, looking to make an impression.
When he first was called up, his instinct was not to make mistakes.
“My first couple games, I was probably living off the adrenalin. And then you get into game four or five, and then I think that Tampa game, I really felt like I could start hanging on to pucks, and I didn’t have to be so panicky. And I definitely think every game that grows, I get more comfortable,” he said.
Sasson’s play on Thursday stood out. His ninth game, he used his speed with great effect, setting up a pair of goals and keeping Florida’s defencemen on their toes.
His hockey smarts are obviously impressing his coach.
Sasson’s role right now is a simple one: don’t get out played when he’s on the ice. The fourth line’s job is to give the stars a chance to rest and not put the team behind.
“He’s good at hanging on to the puck. He manages the pace of the game really well. He’s made good reads. He’s smart out there, he’s good on draws. So I think he’s been really impressive,” Blueger said.
Blueger’s praise is remarkable for the rookie.
“Since I got to the organization, they’ve been preaching to all of us about how you can look up to a guy like Teddy, who went through his time in the AHL and got to the NHL and didn’t leave,” Sasson said. You can build yourself into an AHL is the message.
Tocchet said going into the game against Florida that they had to be ready to recover pucks and launch counterattacks quickly, to which Friedman is well-suited.
“When you play heavy teams, teams rim the puck a lot, you need those guys on the right sides of the forehand,” he said. Being on the right side of the ice as a right shot means you in prime position to collect the puck and then move it.
Friedman’s been at this long enough that this is all second nature. There’s no extra switch he flips. He just goes with the flow of the game — at his top gear, of course.
“I’m not thinking I need to do something for the game. I’m just gonna go with it,” he said.
But the fact everything is all so fresh still leaves Sasson with a wondrous look on his face. So many things are still the first time for him.
“Honestly, I can’t lie, it was pretty cool hearing the announcer (Al Murdoch) saying ‘assisted by Max Sasson.’ That was pretty cool.”