When the Sabres lost Robin Lehner in the season opener, they hoped Buffalo’s other goaltenders could step in and perform. But hope was all they had to go on. Chad Johnson was a career backup, and Linus Ullmark was a rookie coming off surgery.
Now the team has a bunch of saves to go with that hope.
Ullmark and Johnson have been better than expected, propelling the Sabres to wins in five of the last seven games. Buffalo faces its biggest test of the season Tuesday when the Dallas Stars and the NHL’s best offense visit, and the goaltenders seem ready.