There’s been talk for a decade on when the future will be. With the Jack Quinn goal last night, it appears the future is here in Buffalo.
The result from this game is not what Sabres fans wanted, but seeing the goal-scoring from their young core can leave fans excited that the future is starting to become the present.
It has been almost 10 years since the fans of Buffalo have been told that the future would be coming soon. Whether that be Mikhail Grigorenko, Nikita Zadorov, Sam Reinhart, and yes Jack Eichel. Every year, fans thought that their young prospects would make the NHL and turn this franchise around. All to no avail.
However, this crop of prospects feels different. These players are producing at the NHL and AHL levels, something that was not happening before. This core is more than one, star player, they are deep and want to win.
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After this game, fans should be excited about what is in store.
What went wrong in this contest thought? Why does this young core sound so promising, yet blow several leads en route to a home loss?
First Period
Aaron Dell found himself back in the blue paint for this Thursday night matchup in the Queen City.
Simply put, Rasmus Dahlin played one of his best games in a Sabres jersey. It did not take long for the former first-overall pick to find the scoresheet as he got the scoring started just three minutes into the affair. An incredible, and I mean incredible dipsy-doodle play found him dangling a Stars’ forward, then undressing Brayden Holtby for the goal. This was the play fans were told to expect back in 2018 when Dahlin was drafted.
Then just six minutes into his return, Buffalo’s 2020 first-round pick scored his first NHL goal. A mind-boggling between the legs pass from Dahlin found Jack Quinn at the top of the circle. A few strides in, and Quinn unleashed a laser to the top corner. A stellar powerplay sequence for the blue-and-gold resulted in the first of many for young Jack Quinn. Jack Quinn is OFFICIALLY an NHL goal scorer.
Unfortunately for Buffalo, the good times did not last long. The start of the powerplay onslaught for Dallas began on a Jason Robertson goal. A rebound off a long point shot found the tape of Robertson who wasted no time in sneaking it past Dell.
Buffalo was able to go into the dressing room with a one-goal lead, and the building had some life in it.
Second Period
It did not take long for another Sabres youngster to find the back of the net. Dylan Cozens continued his success from the other night’s victory and gave the Sabres another two-goal lead. A great pass from Victor Olofsson sprung Cozens for a quick breakaway, who gave a quick head fake and buried the puck for Buffalo. This goal was not only big for Cozens, but for Olofsson as well who has had difficulties finding the scoresheet in recent weeks.
Again for Buffalo, their penalty kill bit them in the ass. A great backdoor pass by John Klingberg found the stick of Roope Hintz for the easy tap-in goal. This was one of the better games for Dahlin, but a blown assignment here allowed Hintz to get the game within one.
Just a few moments later, Dallas knotted the game up at three. The only even-strength goal for the Stars saw Tyler Seguin pull off a circus-like goal. He threw a pass waist-high through the front of the net, and Mark Pysyk found himself on the other end of a butt-goal. This was just an unlucky bounce for the Sabres, as several bounces did not go their way leading to this tally.
The scoring explosion continued this frame, this time the home-town boy Alex Tuch scored. A patient play on the rush saw the big-man use John Klingberg and abuse him to rip one to give the Sabers another lead. This was huge as it showed another piece of the future scoring for Buffalo. That made it Dahlin, Quinn, Cozens, and Tuch.
Buffalo went into the final frame with a one-goal lead. For fans, you can take that as a good thing or a bad thing.
Third Period
The Sabres needed to be able to close out this game. Yes they weren’t expected to do much this year but you have to find ways to close out leads at home.
The Stars power play struck again as Seguin once more got the red light to flash. A great passing play saw him alone by the dot, while a sprawling Dell was unable to get a piece of the puck. For the third time in this game and probably the hundredth on the season…Buffalo blown another lead.
If you thought Dallas going three-for-four on their powerplay was bad, just wait till you find out they went four-for-five. Rasmus Asplund took a penalty late into the period, and the Stars capitalized once more.
Jason Robertson tallied his second of the night. Another aerial pass, another puck scored out of the air. I feel like Buffalo leads the league in goals given up off passes that are waist-high.
A valiant last hurrah six-on-five attempt by Buffalo saw them unable to push the game into overtime. Dell finished up the night making 42 saves, on 47 shots.
What went wrong?
The Sabres’ penalty kill was no doubt at fault for this loss. Several ill-timed penalties almost all resulted in a Dallas goal scored.
Again, this is something that should get better with time. As these prospects grow and mature, this defensive side of their game will come. This goes along with their struggles closing games out. This season, the Sabres have blown several leads in the third period.
If we look at Tampa Bay a couple of years before they began to find success, they had similar issues. Multiple late-game leads blown, and the tendency to throw games away.
Rome was not built in a day, and fans need to be patient with these kids. If the Buffalo faithful lose hope the second things don’t go right, the blue-and-gold are doomed to fail. This team was picked to be one of the worst in recent history coming into this year, but they are showing signs of life still.
Better days are coming Buffalo; for real this time.
Enjoy the moment, because Jack Quinn has scored his first of many NHL goals.