For the second straight game, the Buffalo Sabres won in comeback fashion – this time against the San Jose Sharks, 4-2. The win completes the California sweep, as the Sabres defeated the Los Angeles Kings, Anaheim Ducks, and Sharks within a five-day span. Buffalo moves into the playoff picture once again as the club now sits three points behind the first-place Toronto Maple Leafs in the Atlantic Division.
Fabian Zetterlund was the beneficiary of a big rebound by James Reimer and got the Sharks on the board first. Peyton Krebs tied it just over a minute later on a great shot on a two-on-one break.
The second period was dominated by San Jose, but they only added one goal by Luke Kunin to show for it. The Sabres dug deep to mount another comeback, with Dylan Cozens’ equalizer. Alex Tuch made a great individual play shorthanded to spring himself on a breakaway to score the eventual game-winner.
To recap the outstanding West Coast trip, let’s highlight the best individual performances of the six-point run up the standings.
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen vs. the Kings
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen was outstanding versus the Kings and the Ducks, but his performance in Los Angeles was the best of his career. Luukkonen posted a career-best 3.92 goals-saved above expected per Evolving-Hockey.
His 23-save shutout performance got Buffalo off on the right foot on the West Coast as they prepared for a tough back-to-back travel schedule between Anaheim and San Jose.
Jiri Kulich vs. the Ducks
Luukkonen graded highest Anaheim as well, but Jiri Kulich stepped up in a big way to propel the Sabres to the win over the Ducks. Kulich’s line was Buffalo’s best all night, including solid performances from Jason Zucker and Jack Quinn.
Of course, it was the overtime game-winner that put the ear-to-ear grin on Kulich’s face, as he capped off a great effort by Tuch to give the Sabres another two points in the standings.
James Reimer vs. the Sharks
There was question whether head coach Lindy Ruff would roll with Luukkonen once again in San Jose, but James Reimer ultimately got the call between the pipes for the Sabres versus the Sharks. Reimer responded with an “A” performance of his own in his first career start as a member of the Buffalo Sabres.
The incredible job Reimer did against his former team to spell Luukkonen was amplified by a highlight-reel save.
“That was seven-year-old street hockey James playing,” Reimer quipped about the save. He robbed young star Macklin Celebrini multiple times throughout the game and kept the Sabres in it until they could find a way to take the lead.
The comfort a performance like that from Reimer brings to Sabres is huge. Buffalo would like to keep Devon Levi playing in Rochester while he continues to develop. Luukkonen has proven he can handle a heavy start percentage, but the coaching staff doesn’t want to burn him out too early.
The next goal for the team is to improve upon their third-place position in the division, as they look to put space between themselves and the teams on the outside looking in.
