Quinn Scores Hat Trick as Sabres Extend Winning Streak to Eight.

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Jack Quinn led the Buffalo Sabres to a 6-3 victory over the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday, capping off his three-goal performance with an empty-net goal. With the win, Buffalo extended its winning streak to eight games. Jason Zucker and Beck Malenstyn helped break the game open in the second period, scoring just four minutes apart. Alex Tuch also scored, marking his 300th career point with the Sabres in his 600th NHL game. Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin and Ryan McLeod each recorded three assists. Goaltender Alex Lyon stopped 17 shots, improving his record to 15-2 in his last 17 starts. For the Sharks, Macklin Celebrini, Kiefer Sherwood, and Alexander Wennberg found the back of the net. Celebrini, a 19-year-old Canadian Olympian, scored his 33rd goal of the season and earned his 90th point in 62 games. Only Sidney Crosby (54 games, 2006–07) and Wayne Gretzky (56 games, 1979–80) reached 90 points in fewer games as teenagers. Goaltender Yaroslav Askarov made 20 saves in the loss. Buffalo, leading the Atlantic Division, improved to 29-5-2 over their past 36 games, a stretch that began with a 10-game winning streak. With a record of 40-19-6, the Sabres are closing in on ending a 14-season playoff drought. Their 40 wins are the second-highest total in the past 15 seasons, just two shy of their 2022–23 total. The game’s turning point came early in the second period when Malenstyn scored at 4:59 after teammate Peyton Krebs chipped the puck out of the defensive zone. Zucker followed with a goal on a rebound from Quinn’s shot, extending the lead to 4-1.

Next up, the Sharks will visit Boston on Thursday, while the Sabres host Washington.