Buffalo Sabres line is one of the NHL's most dangerous since Olympic break

The Buffalo Sabres feature a lot of offensive firepower but it's not the Tage Thompson-led top line or the Josh Norris-guided second line generating the highest rate of scoring chances recently.

Benchrates provided a look at the NHL's top 15 lines in terms of expected goals created per 60 minutes since the league's Olympic break ended in late February. The Buffalo trio of Ryan McLeod, Jason Zucker and Jack Quinn cracked the ranking at No. 7 overall:

Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff has rewarded the line by often giving them the opportunity to start the period on the ice, which speaks to his confidence the group can not only create attacking pressure but also ensure the puck stays out of Buffalo's net.

It's not just a short-term trend, either.

McLeod, Zucker and Quinn have skated 369 minutes together in 5-on-5 situations this season. The Sabres have outscored opponents 25-15 in that ice time (62.5 GF%), per Natural Stat Trick.

So, while Ruff might shake up his lineup in other ways before the playoffs — perhaps swapping Peyton Krebs and Zach Benson on the first and fourth lines, respectively — it feels like that highly successful third line is locked in.

Buffalo Sabres' postseason lineup is starting to come into focus with 10 games remaining

The Sabres have blown two straight third-period leads en route to overtime losses, but those missed opportunities haven't changed the club's playoff outlook. Their odds to qualify for the Eastern Conference field round up to 100% (via HockeyStats.com), though they haven't officially clinched.

In turn, Ruff is likely starting to make some final decisions about how Buffalo will line up once the Stanley Cup Playoffs get underway.

Aside from the possible Krebs-Benson swap, the Sabres' forward lines are pretty much locked in because Sam Carrick has been a perfect fit since arriving from the New York Rangers ahead of the NHL trade deadline in early March.

Josh Dunne, Tyson Kozak and Tanner Pearson provide valuable depth, and they've played well when called upon, but it's hard to imagine them cracking the playoff lineup as things stand. The same is true for Jordan Greenway as he works back from a middle-body injury.

Meanwhile, the Sabres' top-four defense group of Rasmus Dahlin, Mattias Samuelsson, Owen Power and Bowen Byram has been the foundation for the team's amazing turnaround this season, and they'll all log massive minutes in the postseason.

Another deadline addition, Logan Stanley, is also inching closer to being a lineup lock. He's overcome a sluggish start with the Blue and Gold to provide a much-needed physical edge on the blue line.

The other spot on the third pair is probably the one spot still up for grabs. Zach Metsa is the favorite, but Conor Timmins returned from injury with a solid showing on Wednesday night. Michael Kesselring and Luke Schenn are the other contenders.

Finally, the debate between the pipes is a little different. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Alex Lyon have formed a dynamic goaltending duo for Buffalo throughout the campaign, and there's no doubt they'll be dressed for the playoff games. Colten Ellis has handled backup duties recently to give the non-starter a full night off, but that likely won't remain the case in the postseason.

The question is whether UPL or Lyon will draw the Game 1 start in the first round. Both goalies faltered a bit in their most recent start, so the final 10 games will probably determine the answer.

Although the Sabres have one of the deepest lineups in the league, the East playoffs will be a two-month battle of attrition. All eight teams that ultimately qualify for the field will have a legitimate chance of making a deep run (or getting knocked out early).

Buffalo's forward lines and defensive pairs are mostly set in stone, barring some late-season injuries, but Ruff will have options to shake things up if a series starts trending in the wrong direction.