The Buffalo Sabres extended their win streak to eight games with a 6-3 victory over the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday at KeyBank Center.
Jack Quinn recorded his first NHL hat trick and added an assist for his first four-point game. Rasmus Dahlin and Ryan McLeod each had three assists, while Jason Zucker contributed a goal and an assist. Alex Tuch and Beck Malenstyn also scored for Buffalo, and goaltender Alex Lyon made 18 saves.
Quinn opened the scoring at 4:12 of the first period, finishing a 2-on-1 opportunity with a wrist shot from the right circle. Tuch doubled the lead at 5:39 by tipping Dahlin’s point shot past Sharks goaltender Yaroslav Askarov.
San Jose cut the deficit to 2-1 when Macklin Celebrini scored at 12:54 of the first period. Buffalo regained control in the second period as Malenstyn scored at 4:59 before Zucker added a backhand goal at 8:51 to make it 4-1.
Kiefer Sherwood pulled the Sharks within 4-2 late in the second period, but Quinn responded just 42 seconds into the third period with a one-timer from the slot to restore Buffalo’s three-goal advantage.
Alexander Wennberg scored on a power play midway through the third period to make it 5-3, but Quinn sealed the win with an empty-net goal at 17:14 to complete the hat trick.
The victory marked the first time in franchise history the Sabres have recorded multiple winning streaks of eight or more games in the same season. Buffalo improved to 14-2-1 in its last 17 games and extended its lead atop the Atlantic Division.
The Sabres (40-19-6) continue their homestand Thursday against the Washington Capitals at 7 p.m.
Kyle leads sports coverage and hosts the Concrete Jungle podcast. Have a lead or question? Send it to [email protected].