Sabres Extend Shutout Streak, Lyon Nears NHL Record in Win Over Sharks
Los Angeles, CA – The Buffalo Sabres continued their impressive run of form with a pair of shutouts heading into Saturday’s game against the Los Angeles Kings, carrying a team shutout streak of 164:07.[1] Goaltenders Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Alex Lyon each secured a shutout in recent games, highlighting the team’s strong defensive play.
Lyon on the Verge of History
Alex Lyon is now just one road win away from tying the NHL record for most consecutive road wins, currently standing at 10. The record is jointly held by Evgeni Nabokov and Devan Dubnyk, both with 11 straight road victories.[1] Lyon boasts a remarkable 17-2-0 record in his last 19 games.[1]
Strong Goaltending and Offensive Contributions
Luukkonen has also been stellar, posting a 12-4-1 record in his last 17 games with a goals-against average of 2.62 and a save percentage of .915.[1] Rasmus Dahlin broke a three-game pointless streak with a goal and an assist in San Jose, continuing a strong 26-game stretch where he has recorded 10 goals and 23 assists for 33 points.[1]
Sabres’ Improved Resilience
The Sabres’ recent success demonstrates a significant improvement in their ability to win games even when not playing at their best. The game against the Sharks exemplified this, as Buffalo scored three goals on their next three shots after a period with no shots on goal.[1] Tage Thompson, who had been in a scoring slump, also found the back of the net, scoring on one of Buffalo’s first four shots in the third period.[1]
Standings Update
The Carolina Hurricanes are currently tied with Buffalo in games played but lead the Sabres by two points for first overall in the Eastern Conference.[1] Buffalo leads the Atlantic Division with a points percentage of .667, while the Tampa Bay Lightning trail with a .657 points percentage, four points behind.[1]
Matchup Against the Kings
The Sabres previously defeated the Kings 4-1 in late January.[1] Los Angeles is 3-1-2 in their last six games and has been bolstered by the acquisition of Artemi Panarin, who has 15 points (4 goals, 11 assists) in 12 games with the team.[1]
Ruff on Panarin and the Kings’ Style of Play
Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff emphasized the require to be aware of Panarin’s offensive capabilities, noting he is the Kings’ leading scorer with 72 points (23 goals, 49 assists).[1] Ruff also observed a shift in the Kings’ playing style, noting they are no longer as defensively focused as they once were. Los Angeles currently ranks ninth in the NHL in goals against, allowing 2.91 goals per game, while the Sabres are eighth at 2.90.[1] Since December 9th, Buffalo has been the league’s stingiest team, allowing just 2.43 goals per game and scoring 3.80.
Kings’ Playoff Push
The Kings currently hold the second Wild Card spot in the Western Conference, with three teams within two points of them.[1] Darcy Kuemper has been the primary goaltender for Los Angeles, posting a 17-13-11 record with a 2.65 goals-against average and a .897 save percentage.[1]