Sabres, Oilers maintain strong season starts

The Buffalo Sabres secured a 3-2 victory against the Los Angeles Kings on October 31, 2026, completing a successful road trip through California with seven of eight possible points. Jack Quinn opened the scoring on a power play at 6:35 in the first period, assisted by Zach Benson and Rasmus Dahlin.

Tage Thompson extended the lead to 2-0 before the Kings rallied with Corey Perry and Andre Lee scoring to tie the game early in the third period. Thompson then scored his second goal of the game on another power play at 13:40, assisted by Quinn and Dahlin, reclaiming the lead for Buffalo.

Goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen had a solid performance, making 27 saves on 29 shots, and the Sabres' penalty kill was effective, finishing 4-for-5. Buffalo's power play was particularly strong during this game, going 2-for-3, and they accumulated four power-play goals over the last two games of the trip.

The Sabres' performance demonstrated a mix of solid special teams, effective goaltending, and strong shot-blocking efforts, with 30 shots blocked, including eight by Mattias Samuelsson. With this victory, the Sabres showcased their potential as serious contenders early in the season, driven by key performances from Thompson, Luukkonen, and their special teams.

The report from Die By The Blade highlights the encouraging signs for Buffalo as they look to build momentum moving forward.