Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550/WBEN) - The Buffalo Sabres continued their winning ways on Saturday night with a 5-3 victory over the Anaheim Ducks at KeyBank Center.
Jack Quinn scored twice for the Sabres, including the game-winner, while Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen stopped 31 shots in the win.
The Sabres took the early 1-0 lead just over two minutes into the game, as forward Ryan McLeod fed Quinn with a beautiful pass on a 2-on-1 rush, and the winger cashed in with a shot over the glove hand of Ducks goalie Lukas Dostal.
Midway through period, Zach Benson got sent in on a break, but was hooked from behind. A penalty shot was called, but Benson couldn't convert as he hit the post on a backhand over the glove of Dostal.
Just moments into the second period, Tage Thompson drew two penalties just 53 seconds apart. First, Ian Moore gets sent to the box for tripping, then Olen Zellweger was penalized for holding. Buffalo failed to score on the two-man advantage, though, and the score remained 1-0.
Midway through the middle frame, the Sabres extended their lead after a great steal by Josh Doan at the Anaheim blue line. That resulted in a turnover, which Peyton Krebs took to find Thompson at the door step to make it a 2-0 game for Buffalo.
Buffalo made it a 3-0 game at 7:09 of the third period, as Thompson was patient behind the Anaheim net before finding Bowen Byram coming in from the point, who then ripped a one-timer from the slot past Dostal.
The Ducks finally got on the board, starting with a goal from Zellweger to make it 3-1 with just under five minutes remaining on the clock.
However, Quinn came back with his second goal of the night just 44 seconds later to extend the lead back to three.
Anaheim didn't go away, though, as they scored two quick goals in the final two minutes of regulation to cut the deficit to one. Goals from forwards Leo Carlsson and Mason McTavish made it a 4-3 game contest with 48 seconds remaining.
However, the Sabres ended it there, as Alex Tuch beat his man behind the Ducks' empty net, and he eventually fed Josh Norris to score and seal the 5-3 victory for Buffalo.
The Sabres have now won 13 of their last 14 games, and three-straight games since their loss in Columbus to the Blue Jackets last week.
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SCORING RECAP
First Period:
BUF: 2:03 - Jack Quinn (8) (Ryan McLeod, Zach Benson)
ANA: NONE
Second Period:
BUF: 7:22 - Tage Thompson (22) (Peyton Krebs, Josh Doan)
ANA: NONE
Third Period:
BUF: 7:09 - Bowen Byram (10) (Tage Thompson, Peyton Krebs); 16:00 - Jack Quinn (9) (Zach Benson, Owen Power); 19:49 - Josh Norris (6) ENG (Alex Tuch)
ANA: 15:16 - Owen Zellweger (6) (Jackson Lacombe, Mikael Granlund); 18:02 - Leo Carlsson (18) (Ian Moore); 19:12 - Mason McTavish (11) (Leo Carlsson, Beckette Sennecke)
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Blue Star Home Services Three Stars of the Game:
1.) Jack Quinn (BUF)
2.) Tage Thompson (BUF)
3.) Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (BUF)
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What's next:
The Sabres continue their homestand on Monday, as they welcome the two-time reigning Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers to KeyBank Center. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. on WGR Sports Radio 550, with pregame coverage starting at 6 p.m. with Mike Schopp and the Bulldog.