In a dog fight for the top spot in the Atlantic Division, the Buffalo Sabres entered Thursday riding high after a 5-3 win over the New York Rangers. Coming back home and facing a tough test in the Columbus Blue Jackets – who had already beaten the Sabres twice this season – would be just as important.
Things were tight for 47 minutes before the flood gates opened. It wound up being an electric night at KeyBank Center, the Sabres turning aside the desperate Blue Jackets 5-0. There are a few key takeaways worth talking about.
Jack Quinn is Gaining Momentum
Several Sabres have stepped up to have either breakout or comeback seasons. One of the first names you have to talk about in that regard is Jack Quinn. Quinn has largely been a potential guy during his time in Buffalo, showing flashes but never really putting it together for long.
Quinn has been at his best this season, hitting new highs in goals (20), assists (31), and points (51). He was in his bag against the Blue Jackets, especially in the third period. He scored on a nice pass from Logan Stanley and dazzled with several nifty moves with the game on the line.
Quinn’s ascension as a reliable middle-six scoring option cannot be overstated. He has taken a major step forward this season and, at age 24, is just starting to find his stride. That is a major development as the Sabres head into the playoffs where depth and secondary scoring become difference-makers.
Welcome to Ellis Island
Perhaps the most important factor in the Sabres clinching their first playoff appearance in literal ages is the cumulative goaltending performance. Both Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Alex Lyon have been excellent this season, though the former has established as the “starter.”
Related: Sabres’ Game 1 Starter is Obvious
With Lyon out due to injury, Colten Ellis stepped in to give Luukkonen a breather after starting in Manhattan. All he did was come in and stop 37 shots from the Blue Jackets, recording the first shutout of his young career.
Ellis got a standing ovation from the raucous Buffalo crowd, and rightfully so. He – and the goaltending at large – have been awesome this season, and it was nice to see him rewarded with a big milestone.
The Doan/Benson/Norris Line is Built for the Playoffs
The trio of Josh Doan, Zach Benson, and Josh Norris have been on the upswing of late and it has had a major impact on the Sabres, as a whole. They were again awesome on Thursday, combining for two goals, five points, and a cumulative plus-eight rating.
Over the last four games, the trio has combined for five goals and 13 points. More importantly, you can see the impact they have aside from scoring. Doan and Benson both play with an annoying persistence, pestering opposing defenders on a consistent basis.
In the playoffs, where space is limited and turnovers become more pronounced, this is the kind of line that can and will thrive. The fact that all three have playmaking and finishing ability only makes them more difficult to deal with.
Sabres Control Their Own Destiny
The Montreal Canadiens defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday, leaving the Sabres two points ahead of the Canadiens for the division lead. Even though the Canadiens have a game in hand, the Sabres hold the tiebreaker. That means their destiny is in their own hands.
It would be incredible to win the division but the fact that the Sabres are here with two games remaining is incredible on its own. It has been said a million times but the atmosphere for Game 1 is going to be at an all-time level.
