The offensively minded Ducks made for a fast-paced game in both directions, and a 2-on-1 rush resulted in a Jack Quinn goal just 2:03 in. The winger snapped a nine-game drought with his first of two goals on the night.
Quinn’s line was buzzing all night, especially in the first period. Ryan McLeod set up the opening goal and was a constant threat on the rush. Zach Benson had two early breakaway chances, the second resulting in a penalty shot, but Anaheim goalie Lukas Dostal stopped all three backhand attempts. Benson still picked up two assists in the win, and Buffalo led 8-1 in scoring chances with that trio on the ice, per Natural Stat Trick.
“I felt like our line was really good tonight,” said Quinn, who’s up to nine goals this season. “We were all over it. We’re having a lot of fun, and I feel like the high-paced game kind of suits our line.”
Ruff has raved about his team’s depth contributions recently, calling it something of a competition between lines, and the first line one-upped Quinn’s midway through the second period.
Doan, whom Ruff called “a hound around the puck” on Thursday, stole it from an unaware Tim Washe at the Sabres’ offensive blue line and handed off to Peyton Krebs. Krebs found an open Tage Thompson for a backdoor tap-in, his 22nd goal of the season and a 2-0 lead.