BUFFALO, N.Y. — This is where it all started for Devan Dubnyk with the Wild nearly five years ago.



A red-eye flight from Phoenix to Buffalo, via JFK. An 18-save shutout in a trouncing of the Sabres at what was then called First Niagara Center. Thirty-eight consecutive mostly brilliant starts. A Vezina Trophy candidacy and Masterton Trophy win. A brand-new six-year, $26 million contract.



It was a wild five-month ride as the former Edmonton Oilers’ first-round pick saved the Wild’s 2014-15 season, reestablished his NHL career and was deservedly rewarded handsomely for it.



Because Dubnyk’s struggles last season have continued into this season, it’s easy to forget all of that now, and the fact that, statistically, he was one of the best netminders in the NHL from 2015-18.



But when the NHL’s last-place Wild visit the Sabres on Tuesday night, in a direct response to another poor outing by Dubnyk in Saturday’s...