Assessing "The Youth Movement"

Dylan Cozens, JJ Peterka, and Jack Quinn were ethereal against San Jose and the past eight games show a lot of hope

(Photo: Joe Yerdon)

It was impossible to come away from the Sabres 6-3 win against the San Jose Sharks without being blown away by the performance of the JJ Peterka—Dylan Cozens—Jack Quinn line. For lack of better creativity on my own part, I’ve started referring to the trio as “The Youth Movement.” It’s a terrible nickname, you don’t have to tell me, but I’m going to run with it until someone else comes up with something better.

Anyway, that trio wowed all game long with the way they appeared to create scoring opportunities on seemingly every shift. They pushed play towards the Sharks net continually and showed the sort of line chemistry that lines which have been together for a couple seasons show. They instinctually knew where each other was going to be and were able to create odd-man situations because of it. That aspect of their play did not go unnoticed.

“That’s a topic of conversation in the coaches room immediately, even in between periods, how the chemistry, the speed, the skill of those three players together…you see in practice lots and lots of times,” coach Don Granato said after the game.