Shutdown Pair

Tag: Jack Quinn

  • Game Seven

    Game Seven

    I’m still sweating, and I watched it sitting in my chair at home.

    They did this in the second finally

    — TheTickMS (@thetickms.bsky.social) 2026-05-17T02:02:19.842Z

    And it continued on in the third, for a EIGHT TO THREE WIN. It started like pretty much every other game this series, with a quick goal by Buffalo (Rasmus Dahlin with a nifty drive the net after being fed by new first-liner Benson)…followed by three Canadiens goals including a shorty.

    However, old man Zucker got one back late in the first after Alex Lyon got chased (the three Montreal goals were scored on gettable shots), and the entire second period was played in the Habs end. Zach Benson tied the game, picking up a loose puck that slipped through the five hole of Dobeš. Konsta Helenius scored to make it 5-3 Buffalo after some hard work by Zucker (and a sharp pass).

    The scoring continued in the third, with Tage Thompson feeding Jack Quinn for a one-timer snipe that chased the Montreal goalie. Tage followed that with an empty-netter, and Zach Metsa (who was great in his first-ever playoff game) got the eighth goal on a late power play when the team was just trying to run out the clock.

    The rough stuff started after that, with Montreal having no answers for the Sabres in regular play. Arber Xhekaj, Alexandre Carrier, Jake Evans, and Kirby Dach all got misconducts (Xhekaj has been pissed at Greenway since game 2 warmups) while Benson, Krebs, and Norris got to hit the showers early on the Buffalo side.

    Game seven is Monday night. One game to keep a remarkable run going.

    Zach Benson hyping up the boys for the third

    — TheTickMS (@thetickms.bsky.social) 2026-05-17T02:09:38.695Z
  • A Tale of Two Teams

    A Tale of Two Teams

    Watching the game last night (and to an extent every game in this series) it felt like I was seeing two different Buffalo team. The one that started periods was dominant. They skated circles around the Canadiens, scoring goals and hemming them into their own end for multiple shifts. Then the Bad Sabres emerged, making dumb passes, skipping decent shot chances for a fancy pass, and otherwise making stupid decisions.

    I’m not sure what’s wrong with the first line. Alex Tuch has caught whatever Tage and Quinn have and all three were useless most of the night. Quinn in particular seems to be squeezing the stick, getting the puck multiple times in the slot and just, not shooting. Thompson took a stupid penalty away from the play which led to a Montreal power play goal 10 seconds later.

    Bright spots continue to be the Benson/Doan/Norris line, with Doan scoring on a deflection in front. Zucker had the first goal, and young Konsta Helenius continued is excellent play from last game with the Sabres third and final goal.

    Buffalo travels to Montreal tomorrow. I believe that with a few tweaks, they can push it to game seven. I’m planning to go to the watch part at KBC, I hope to see you all there!

  • The Vibes are GOOD

    The Vibes are GOOD

    Okay, so last night’s game ended GREAT (5-0!) despite getting heavily outshot in the first two periods. Colten Ellis stood on his head, his back, his elbow, and every other part for his first career shutout while the Sabres offense woke up for 4 goals in the third period.

    But honestly? WHO CARES IT WAS SO MUCH FUCKING FUN! The crowd was rocking, singing along with songs, chanting at the terrible officiating (some things never change), and booing Columbus whenever possible.

    It wasn’t perfect as I felt like Buffalo wasn’t being physical, and had a little bit of their previous passing problem, but they figured it out in the third. Peyton Krebs opened the scoring in the first, and the lights-out play by Ellis kept that as the winner. Josh Doan scored twice, including an amazing individual effort where he stole the puck right off the stick of Charlie Coyle and fired it home. Jack Quinn scores the next one on a 4 on 2 breakaway, and Doan gets his second moments later on a beauty of a feed by Hobbit/Vampire Zach Benson (seriously, look at any picture of him). Dahlin finished things off with a 200 foot empty net goal.

    Buffalo now sits at 106 points, tops in the Eastern Conference. They play in Chicago Monday, and the final *regular season* game of the season if Wednesday at home against the Dallas Stars. What a ride the past few months have been.

  • Sabres Survive Islanders

    Sabres Survive Islanders

    The Islanders score a late goal to pull within one after giving up an empty-netter, but don’t have enough to beat the Sabres in regulation. Buffalo gets goals from Jack Quinn, Tage Thompson, Peyton Krebs (pictured) and a 198 footer from Bowen Byram into the empty net. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made some dynamite saves, and one of the Islander goals came on a bad angle shot that went in off of Owen Power.

    One worrying injury as Sam Carrick left the game after a fight with Anders Lee. Carrick was thrown down to the ice and immediately clutched his arm/shoulder. He was stepping up to get some payback on Lee after the Islander knocked Norris into the boards, but may have paid the price. Hopefully he’s okay, and Buffalo does have the depth if he’s out for a bit.

    It wasn’t 100% back to form but I felt like this was a much better game from the Sabres. They were right on the Isles forwards in the defensive zone and were constant pests on the forecheck. They didn’t make a *ton* of mistakes playing the puck, which was the issue during the losses they had recently. Even when it was tied, I never thought they’d lose.

    One. Hundred. Points. Hell yeah. Buffalo’s back in action Thursday night in Ottawa taking on the Senators.