Quinn taking game to 'new level' after early-season adjustments

Jack Quinn was on the receiving end of a hit from Detroit Red Wings defenseman Gustav Lindstrom on Monday, right after the faceoff that immediately followed Quinn's first goal of the season.
Quinn wasted little time before enacting his revenge. He picked himself up off the ice, tracked Red Wings forward Lucas Raymond into the neutral zone, and knocked Raymond off his skates with a punishing hip check in front of the Buffalo bench.
The play was reminiscent of the physical pushback Quinn - listed at 6-foot-1 but just 185 pounds - displayed last season during his breakout campaign with Rochester.
"I don't really know, I think I just get a little mad," Quinn said. "Sometimes I'll do that."

Tweet from @BuffaloSabres: The Jack Quinn\ show, part ������#LetsGoBuffalo pic.twitter.com/hzREXeo5ao
The physicality is just one ingredient of Quinn's game that has progressively shown as he's waded further into the early part of his rookie NHL season.
Quinn played the first two games for Buffalo, then sat out two games as part of the ongoing rotation among the team's 13 healthy forwards.
Sabres coach Don Granato said the decision was made with the intention of allowing the 21-year-old to target specific areas of improvement without the grind of games. Since Quinn returned to the lineup - playing mostly on a line with Casey Mittelstadt - shot attempts are 57-34 in favor of Buffalo when he's been on the ice at 5-on-5, a 63-percent share.
"He has reached another level, probably a couple," Granato said. "It's a credit to him, his talent. A little bit miraculous where he looked like things were challenging him in different areas, offensively and defensively.
"… He's like a homing torpedo. He can recalibrate and figure it out and it's amazing how he came back in the lineup. He looks like a new player with new energy. Really a credit to him for being able to adjust himself."
The Sabres have outscored opponents 5-1 when Quinn has been on the ice at 5-on-5. His even-strength play earned him an opportunity on the power play, which is where he scored his goal against the Red Wings. Quinn found open space near the net and roofed a one-time shot on a feed from Tage Thompson.
Video: DET@BUF: Quinn fires one-timer into the corner of net
"Unbelievable shot and a great release," Thompson said. "I think for him any time he can get into those little pockets where he can get his shot off, he's going to be deadly."
Quinn used that shot to score 26 goals in 45 games with the Amerks last season, earning recognition as the AHL's top rookie. The task this season is learning how to apply it to the NHL and - after a two-game breather - he is off to a promising start.
"I think I had to turn up my compete level a little bit and play harder and just get to know the system a little bit," he said. "I think I was able to watch and learn when I was sitting out about how Donny wants us to play and get my head around it. When I came back in, I was able to kind of do that a lot better."
Here are more notes from Tuesday's practice at KeyBank Center.
1. Rasmus Dahlin took a maintenance day after skating a team-high 25:57 in the win over Detroit. Dahlin ranks sixth in the NHL in average ice time (25:23) this season.
Here's how the group lined up in his absence:
| November 1 | | --- | | LW | C | RW | | 53 Jeff Skinner | 72 Tage Thompson | 21 Kyle Okposo | | 22 Jack Quinn | 37 Casey Mittelstadt | 71 Victor Olofsson | | 77 JJ Peterka | 24 Dylan Cozens | 89 Alex Tuch | | 28 Zemgus Girgensons | 19 Peyton Krebs | 74 Rasmus Asplund | | | | 29 Vinnie Hinostroza | | LD | RD | G | | 4 Jeremy Davies | 78 Jacob Bryson | 41 Craig Anderson | | 38 Kale Clague | 25 Owen Power | 31 Eric Comrie | | 20 Lawrence Pilut | 45 Casey Fitzgerald | | | | | |
2.The Sabres once again practiced wearing the white pants and white gloves they will wear with their new Reverse Retro uniforms, which they will debut on Wednesday against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Tickets for the game are available here. Check out the uniform below.
Tweet from @BuffaloSabres: Because one goathead jersey isn't enough 😈Introducing our @adidas #ReverseRetro 2022. Available 11.15.#LetsGoBuffalo x @adidashockey pic.twitter.com/Oi6oyDnAu8
Can't make it downtown? The game will be nationally televised on TNT with puck drop scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
3.The Sabres kicked off Hockey Fights Cancer Month after practice, welcoming guests from Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center to shave players' heads in solidarity with patients.
Casey Fitzgerald, Casey Mittelstadt, Jacob Bryson, and Jeremy Davies all had their heads shaved.
Tweet from @BuffaloSabres: The guys are kicking off #HockeyFightsCancer by shaving their heads and showing support for the patients at @RoswellPark! Everyone had to get in on Casey's luscious locks. 😆For more info about how you can get involved: https://t.co/HoAEvK1PJa pic.twitter.com/32VXetAcpQ
The Sabres will hold their annual Hockey Fights Cancer Night on Saturday, November 12. Find more information at Sabres.com/HFC.