Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - Entering Saturday’s game against the Anaheim Ducks, Buffalo Sabres winger Jack Quinn has scored one goal in 19 games. Before that, he had a goal in three-consecutive games, but on the season, he only has seven.
That means over 82 games, he’d have just 14 goals.
Quinn plays almost 16 minutes per-game, and is in the second power play unit. Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff isn’t too concerned from the lack of goals from his winger.
"Boy, I’ve seen a lot of chances. I’ve seen a lot of missed opportunities. If the chances had dried up, I’d be concerned," said Ruff on Saturday following the morning skate.
"I think I’m surprised, really. He’s had great opportunities that haven’t turned into goals. I think when they start coming, they’ll come in a more consistent fashion. I’d be concerned if he wasn’t getting the opportunities, but he’s still getting those couple of good opportunities per-game because last year, he had less opportunities and took advantage of that. So just trying to be patient."
There is part of Quinn’s game that Ruff hasn’t liked. He says if that improves, his production likely will improve.
"I look at a lot of those opportunities, and is he paying a price to stay around netfront for the dirtier goals, the rebound goals. Those are kind of the ones that get you going a lot of times," Ruff said. "I think he can do a better job of being around the net a little bit more."
Of course it’s a frustration when the puck isn’t going in for a player that normally scores goals.
"You want to bury them and put it in the back of the net, but at the same time, there is some positives to having a lot of looks," said Quinn following Saturday's morning skate. "I think that means we’re doing the right things as a line, and playing some pretty good hockey. I just hope they start going in the net soon."
Michael Kesselring was back on the ice for the first time after a high-ankle sprain. So far, he’s missed three games with this injury. This season, he's missed 26 games due to injury. Ruff thinks that it’s possible he could be back playing by mid-week.
Buffalo comes into this game with 12 wins in 13 games. That has them in Wild Card position No. 2 in the Eastern Conference. The Sabres have won five-straight games at home, as well as seven out of eight.
Overall, the Sabres are 13-5-2 on home ice.
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen will be back in net for Buffalo. He’s 8-6-1 this season with a 2.61 goals-against average and a .903 save percentage. He’s 4-1-0 in his last five games.
The Ducks got off to an 11-3-1 start, but since then are 10-17-2. Currently, they’re on an eight-game losing streak, and have lost 10-of-11 games. Their points percentage of .511 has them 12th in the Western Conference.
Part of the problem for Anaheim has been goaltending. The Ducks are dead-last in the NHL with a goals-against average of 3.70.
Lukas Dostal is 13-11-2 this season with a goals-against average of 3.22 and a save percentage of .887.
Leo Carlsson and Troy Terry lead Anaheim in scoring with 42 points in 43 games.
Terry missed their last game with an upper-body injury.
Frank Vatrano has missed six games with a shoulder fracture, while Petr Mrazek has been out for two games with a lower-body injury.
Join Pat Malacaro and myself for pregame coverage on WGR starting at 6 p.m. when you’ll hear from Ruff, Quinn and Kesselring.
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