The Buffalo Sabres extended their winning streak to eight games with a 6-3 victory over the San Jose Sharks at KeyBank Center on March 11. Beck Malenstyn scored his sixth goal of the season, while Jack Quinn recorded his first career hat trick and four-point game.
The win marks the first time in franchise history that the Sabres have achieved multiple eight-game or longer winning streaks in one season. The team previously won ten straight games in December. With this latest victory, Buffalo built a four-point lead over the Tampa Bay Lightning for first place in the Atlantic Division.
Coach Lindy Ruff praised Malenstyn’s performance, saying, “He’s, almost on a nightly basis, one of our top-speed skaters. Combine that with making better plays and some of the dekes and some of the moves, there’s a couple times I’ve said, ‘Wow.’” Captain Rasmus Dahlin added about Malenstyn, “I love to see him score and celly like that.”
Jack Quinn broke out of a scoring slump by netting three goals and assisting on another. “I think after the break I was actually playing pretty good, and our line was having a ton of chances, just I wasn’t producing a ton,” Quinn said. “It was nice to turn the corner tonight.” Ruff also commented on Quinn’s efforts: “He’s probably led our team in top opportunities that haven’t gone in the net. It was due to go… Great to see, because he’s one guy that when he starts hitting his mark – I mean, look at the shot at the start of the third period. It just gives us another big threat.” Dahlin said about Quinn: “He’s just a great teammate, he’s loud, he brings the vibe every game, and I’m just happy to see him score like he can.”
Logan Stanley made his debut for Buffalo after being acquired from Winnipeg Jets. He received approval for his work visa hours before puck drop and fought Zack Ostapchuk during his first period on ice. Stanley said about joining his new team: “You want to show your teammates that you’re here to compete and try to win a championship with them, and pull your weight. That was my way of starting to do that, anyways.”
Goaltender Alex Lyon made 17 saves for Buffalo and improved his record since December 9th to 15-2-0 with an NHL-best .924 save percentage during this stretch.
The Sabres will next host Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals on Thursday.
