3 Takeaways From the Sabres’ 5-4 Over the Maple Leafs

Though it was nice to get a point on the road against the Montreal Canadiens, the Buffalo Sabres have been struggling to find a groove. On Thursday night, they got a formidable test in the form of their long-time rivals the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Things looked dicey for most of the game, with the Sabres playing catch-up until the late stages of the game. After forcing overtime, the Sabres took advantage and took an important two points with a 5-4 overtime victory.

The Jack Quinn Show

The Sabres had high expectations for Quinn coming into the season. He still struggles with consistency issues, but when he is on he can be flat-out dominant. On Thursday against the Maple Leafs, Quinn was the single biggest difference maker for the Sabres.

He was incredible against the Maple Leafs, scoring a pair of goals and assisted on two others, including the game-winner by Owen Power. There were numerous instances in which he looked like he would complete the hat trick and he even fought Troy Stecher in the second period.

With four goals and eight points through eight games, Quinn is off to a far better start than a season ago. He showed that he can be a dominant offensive force, and he was a huge reason why the Sabres got those two points.

Luukkonen Better Than the Numbers Show

At first glance, giving up four goals would have most fans arguing that Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen was below average. His season stats – 3.52 goals against average and .854 save percentage – would seem to back that up.

Watching the last few games, including this one, would tell a different story. Against the Leafs, Luukkonen was downright good at times. Three of the four goals were defensive breakdowns, and the only one you can really pin on him is the second by Kirill Marchenko.

Luukkonen has had a few highlight reel saves over the past few games, and it seems like he’s finding a groove. Team defense is not bad, but they do have big lapses that cost them. Hopefully for Luukkonen, the numbers start to catch up as well.

Defense Leads the Comeback

Buffalo’s defense was a critical component in its success last season, and it was impactful again on Thursday night. With the Sabres down 4-2 and just under 10 minutes remaining, the Sabres got goals from Dennis Gilbert and Mattias Samuelsson within 2:11 to tie the game.

Then, in overtime, Owen Power had a nifty exchange with Quinn and buried the game-winner. He has been incredible so far this season, leading the Sabres with six assists and is tied for third on the team with eight points. He’s also fourth in the NHL in average time on ice with 26:38 per game.

Olen Zellweger has been a fantastic fit as well and, even without Rasmus Dahlin, the Sabres’ defense has been a dominant fixture. They were the catalyst for the comeback and Power’s ascension continues to be one of the best storylines for the Sabres so far this season.

A Win Is a Win, but It Would Be Nice to Have a Lead

At 4-3-1 through eight games, the Sabres are doing just fine in the face of inconsistency and several injuries. They started slowly last season before becoming one of the best teams in the NHL from December onward.

It would be nice for the Sabres to put together a few more complete efforts, but it just shows how deep and dangerous they can be. Their goal differential – minus-six – needs to be cleaned up a bit if they are going to maintain winning habits.