BUFFALO, N.Y. – Without a hint of irony, condescension or disbelief, Sabres coach Ralph Krueger lauded the line of Johan Larsson, Zemgus Girgensons and Kyle Okposo as the trio for all Buffalo forwards to emulate. And he’s not wrong.



It really is a new year in Buffalo.



“We’re a pretty formidable line right now,” said Okposo, who’s noticed the pain in opponents’ faces as they futilely chase the Sabres’ surprising trio. “You look across, you see a fourth line and you say, ‘What the hell am I doing in my D-zone?’



“We’ve got a good thing going.”



The numbers say it’s better than good. Through four games, the Larsson line is leading the Sabres in significant offensive categories. They may not have the skills of Victor Olofsson, Jack Eichel and Sam Reinhart, the skating of Jeff Skinner, Marcus Johansson and Vladimir Sobotka or the expectations carried by Jimmy Vesey,...