Quinn, Dahlin provide highlights as Sabres fall to veteran Stars

Jack Quinn fired a shot off the crossbar for his first NHL goal. Rasmus Dahlin - wearing a letter for the first time in the NHL - deked past a defender to open the scoring. Dylan Cozens scored on a breakaway, and Alex Tuch continued a torrid start to his tenure in Buffalo.
All were promising glimpses from a young team still finding its way. But it was the veteran play of the Dallas Stars that made the difference in a 5-4 loss for the Sabres at KeyBank Center on Thursday.
"Playing against a team like that, they do the right things every time, they wore us down a little bit," Dahlin said. "We've just got to play simple and take away all the mistakes. But, you know, young team. We learn and we've just got to build and build and build and we will get better, for sure."

The Sabres jumped out to a 2-0 lead on the strength of goals from Dahlin and Quinn during the first period. They led 3-1 after Cozens scored early in the second.
But the Stars continued to chip away during the final 40 minutes. Roope Hintz and Tyler Seguin scored to tie the game 3-3. Tuch put the Sabres back ahead prior to the second intermission, only for Seguin to tie the score again with 7:37 remaining.
Jason Robertson's second goal of the night gave the Stars their first lead - one they would never relinquish - with 3:32 left to play.
Dallas scored on four of its five power-play opportunities, including the tying and winning goals.
"The net-front battles and wall battles, they outbattled us," Granato said. "There's no question that was the biggest difference in the game."

The Sabres were playing without alternate captains Zemgus Girgensons and Kyle Okposo, two veterans who have physical identities and are regulars on the penalty kill.
"It's a glimpse of a little bit of where we're at, maybe the opportunity we have in front of us, too, when you see some the goals we did score with some young guys and really skilled guys," Granato said. "Some really nice goals on our side.
"But when I talk about the end result of winning - in this case, not winning - you can see the challenge ahead for us as a younger group to win more of those battles. Some of it's physical, some of it's technical. But this was a team that went to a Stanley Cup Final … because they're big and strong. They beat us in the game of big and strong tonight."

Quinn's 1st goal

Quinn scored 52 goals during his final season of junior hockey. He entered Thursday tied for the AHL lead with 18 goals despite missing a month with mononucleosis.
His first goal in the NHL was befitting of a player with that sort of resume. Quinn caught a no-look pass from Dahlin and sent a shot bar-down on the power play.

"What a goal," Granato said. "It was beautiful goal. It was a power play, but if he has that much time, that's what he can do. He knows where to put it. That was outstanding."
Quinn also tallied the secondary assist on Cozens' breakaway goal.
"Something you kind of dream about," he said. "So, it was pretty special to see it go in and it was exciting to celebrate with my teammates there."

Dahlin drives to the net

Dahlin saw an opportunity against the Stars' man-on-man defense and pounced on it early. He had already driven to the slot and sent a backhand shot wide on the shift that ended with his highlight-reel goal down low.
Dahlin deked past his defender (forward Joel Kiviranta), drew goaltender Braden Holtby out of the net and tucked away a backhand attempt for his seventh goal of the season. He also tallied the primary assists on goals from Quinn and Tuch.

"They gave me space," Dahlin said. "Usually I shoot that from the blue line but I found a way to take the puck to the net."
Dahlin was named to his first All-Star Game last week. He had another first Thursday, serving as alternate captain along with Mark Pysyk in the absence of Girgensons and Okposo.
"Oh, it was an honor," he said. "It means a lot. I'm just trying to be myself and work hard every day. They gave me the 'A' and I really appreciate it."

Tuch stays hot

Tuch buried a shot from the left faceoff circle for his first goal at KeyBank Center. He now has eight points (3+5) in eight games as a member of the Sabres.

Up next

The Sabres host the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday afternoon. Tickets are available here.
Coverage on MSG begins at 12:30 p.m. Puck drop is scheduled for 1.