Sharpen Up: November 2, 2021 | Sabres on nationally streamed game tonight

It's a game night in San Jose. Stay up late with us at the Buffalo Sabres take on the Sharks at 10:30 p.m. from SAP Arena.
The game will air exclusively on ESPN+ and Hulu and you will need a subscription to watch on those streaming services. Dan Dunleavy and Rob Ray will have the radio call on WGR 550.
We'll have updates from the morning skate for you here on Sabres.com and the team's official social media channels.
Here's what you need to know.

Quinn honored for spectacular October

Let's start in Rochester.
Jack Quinn was named the AHL's Rookie of the Month for October, the league announced Monday.
Quinn, a first-round pick (eighth overall) by the Sabres in 2020, leads the Amerks and is tied for fourth in the AHL with 10 points (5+5) in six games this season. He has already surpassed his full-season output from 2020-21, when he tallied nine points (2+7) in 15 contests.
The forward has four multi-point outings this season, including a three-point night against Syracuse on Oct. 22.
The Sabres assigned Quinn to Rochester on Oct. 7, just a week ahead of the regular-season opener. Sabres coach Don Granato and general manager Kevyn Adams met with Quinn to deliver the news, which was particularly difficult given how highly they thought of his effort at camp.

Granato relayed Quinn's reaction to the media on Monday, hours after the 20-year-old forward was named AHL Rookie of the Month for October.
"He looked at both of us and he said, 'I'm OK with going down in one sense: I played below the standard I believe I can play in the American League and I feel like I need to go back there and prove to myself that I can play better in that league,'" Granato told reporters in San Jose.
"… His immediate response was, 'I still have some unfinished business down there.' That's how] he went down there looking at that. That's exactly why we drafted him and picked him and why we enjoy having him in our organization. He's like a homing torpedo."
**[Read more here.**

Yesterday's practice

The Sabres skated at SAP Center in San Jose in preparation for their game against the Sharks on Tuesday. Cody Eakin (upper body) practiced without the non-contact jersey he wore during the team's practices in Los Angeles over the weekeend and could be nearing a return from his five-game absence.
"We did some pretty good compete drills, especially at the end, and he battled," Granato said. "So, it's his tolerance now. Nothing medically that anybody can give him advice on. He just has to feel comfortable and he's going to take another morning skate to figure that out."

Victor Olofsson left the practice early with what Granato referred to as a soft-tissue injury. Granato said he expects Olofsson, who leads the team with five goals, to play Tuesday.
Read the full Practice Report here.

Tonight's matchup

From @SabresPR's Game Notes:

Val James Night is Saturday

Yesterday marked the 40th anniversary of Val James' NHL debut and the Buffalo Sabres will commemorate the milestone during their next home game on Saturday, November 6 against the Detroit Red Wings.
When James suited up for the Sabres for the first time in 1981, he became the first Black American to play in the NHL. The accomplishment was overlooked at the time, but the moment's significance has garnered the attention it deserves over the past few years.
James, who resides in Niagara Falls, Ontario, will be unable to attend the game, but shared his heartfelt thanks to the Sabres community for organizing the night.
"I'm afraid I will not be able to join you on November 6 for the game, but I still appreciate the fact that you are supporting me and honoring me for my achievement of becoming the first African American to play NHL hockey 40 years ago," James said in a video statement released by the team.

Warmup pucks with the "Breaking Barriers" logo designed last season by local artist Edreys Wajed will be used by both teams, and coaches and broadcasters will wear special lapel pins with the logo during the game. Fans will have the opportunity to win warmup pucks through various giveaways and sweepstakes on Saturday.
The Sabres are donating 100 tickets to local youth organizations, including the Buffalo Police Athletic League, Breaking Barriers, Girls Sports Foundation, Hasek's Heroes and Confident Girl Mentoring, to the game.
The Buffalo Sabres Foundation has also donated $10,000 to the Buffalo Police Athletic League Can-Ice Learn to Skate program, which includes the installation of a new synthetic ice rink located at the Hennepin Community Center. The rink will be operated by Buffalo PAL and will be used to provide kids in the city with an opportunity to learn to skate and play hockey, many for the first time.
Click here for more details on the night.

Q&A with Devon Levi

Sabres.com's Prospects Update featured a chat with goaltending prospect Devon Levi, who has four shutouts through eight games this season with Northeastern:
Your performance in last year's 2021 IIHF World Junior Championships really got people's attention for Team Canada. How did that experience help your progress against NHL talent competition?
I think that tournament was a huge confidence boost. Going in I knew that I could perform at the level that I did, but I just never had the opportunity to showcase them on a level like that. I was just having so much fun while doing it, and I think that was my recipe of success.
I was really proud of myself to work my way up from the CCHL to play World Juniors the next year. It made me realize that the numbers don't mean everything from what round you were drafted or what league you play in. If you're able to stop the puck and a good hockey player, you are going to play anywhere.
At the end of the day, it comes down to if you're having fun and doing whatever it takes to win. It was a great learning experience for me overall.
Other members on that Canadian World Junior team included Sabres prospects Dylan Cozens and Jack Quinn who, like yourself, had great numbers, combining for 21 points. What were your first impressions of them?
So, I actually didn't know anyone going into the tryouts or even talked to anyone before making the team. Obviously, I knew their names, but I never met anyone on the team.
Everyone was a new face which was really exciting getting to know guys like Jack and Dylan. They were both super, super welcoming, and extremely nice guys. Hopefully, I will get to play with them in the future with Buffalo.
You were named Hockey East Goaltender of the Week after your third shutout. You picked up your fourth shutout on Friday night against UConn, which makes you tied for sixth in program history and it's only taken you seven games. What would you credit your early success to this season with the Huskies?
I credit it to two things.
First, the guys have been playing super well, and shutouts aren't always goaltending accolades because the team as a whole has to play really well.
Second, I was just so excited to play coming into this year with an extra boost of hunger so that boost of energy really helped too.
Read the full article here.

Today in Sabres history

1996: Dominik Hasek makes 32 saves and Patrick Roy stops all 20 Buffalo shots as the Sabres and Avalanche duel to the fifth scoreless tie in Sabres history.