The Buffalo Sabres continue to show that this midseason turnaround is legit, and they are going to be a force in the second half of the season. After their 10-game win streak ended against the Columbus Blue Jackets, they have started another win streak with their third straight win after a victory over the Anaheim Ducks.
Jack Quinn helped open the scoring with a goal two minutes into the game, but he wasn't done as he would score one of the final goals of the night to secure the win as he pushed the lead back to three for the final score of 5-3. The Sabres now improve to 14-5-2 at home but also 18-1-0 after leading after two periods.
These are some of the top takeaways from the Sabres victory on Saturday against the Ducks.
Jack Quinn ends his goal-less streak against the Anaheim Ducks
The former first-round pick is on pace to surpass his career total in points, which he set last season at 39. However, Jack Qunn has hit a bit of a dry spell, especially with goal scoring, as he entered the game against Ducks with nine straight games without a goal. On top of that, he has had only one goal in the past 20 games.
However, Quinn was able to end that scoreless streak early in this game with the first goal of the game, just over two minutes into the game. Ryan McLeod brought the puck up on a 2-on-1 and passed it quickly to Quinn, who wasted no time and snapped home a shot for the goal.
He wasn't done there, though, as he would score towards the end of the third period that pushed the Sabres' lead back up to three. It was the second time this season that he scored two goals in a game, but the first time since October 15th, in the fourth game of the season against the Senators.
The Buffalo Sabres are a different team when they not only score the first goal but do so early in the game. During this three-game win streak, the Sabres have scored first and done so within the first five minutes of the game.
It just gives this team the momentum they need early, and they really control the game from that point on.
Josh Doan with a remarkable effort play to set up Tage Thompson's goal in the second period
Tage Thompson added another goal to his season total with a second-period goal, which was his 22nd of the season and fourth in the past five games. However, that goal doesn't happen if it isn't for the effort play by Josh Doan.
The Ducks were skating the puck out of their zone, but Josh Doan was able to pick the pocket before they cleared the puck. Peyton Krebs would skate by to collect the puck before passing it across to Tage Thompson, who was sitting far post and was able to give the Sabres the 2-0 lead.
While Doan only got the assist, it was the effort before the assist that really set the Sabres up for the goal, and just one of the stark differences with what the Sabres are doing now compared to the beginning of the season.
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen with a solid performance but it was a team effort
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen delivered the Buffalo Sabres a solid performance against the Ducks, as he stopped 31 of 34 shots. Luukkonen certainly made big plays, especially in the second period, but the players in front of Luukkonen certainly helped him.
In this game, the Sabres had a clear advantage in blocked shots as they blocked 21 shots compared to Anaheim's seven. Dahlin was the Sabres team leader with five, which matched the Ducks' team total, but Josh Norris and Jordan Greenway chipped in with three each.
It was a good night for Luukkonen in net, but he got great assistance from the skaters in front of him by putting their bodies in the way of the shots and limiting the Ducks' chances.
Buffalo Sabres avoid falling into a potential trap game against the Ducks
Earlier in the season, the Buffalo Sabres would put together an impressive performance or two before struggling in a game they should have won. It is something that several players have talked about how the season was almost like a rollercoaster.
On Saturday, they had a chance to once again show they have learned from those mistakes to begin the season as the Ducks game had the potential to be a trap game. The Sabres, winners of 12 of the past 13 entering the game, have a big game on Monday against the Florida Panthers (a team they are competing directly for a playoff spot with).
Meanwhile, the Ducks are entering this game in a bit of a tailspin as they had lost eight straight. It would have been easy to overlook them and look to the game on Monday against the Panthers.
However, the Sabres once again played great hockey right from the start and controlled the momentum through all three periods. The Ducks certainly made it interesting in the closing minutes, and this is something Buffalo has to improve, but they didn't seem to panic and were able to secure the win.