Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - If you’re looking for a solid "team" game from the Buffalo Sabres, I think Tuesday's 7-2 win over the Boston Bruins is a perfect example.
Buffalo got a pair of hat-tricks for the first time since 2008, as Tage Thompson and JJ Peterka both had three goals and four points for the Sabres.
Jiri Kulich had an assist to give the line six goals and three assists for nine points.
What I think was really good for the Sabres on Tuesday was how they were there for each other. If a player made a mistake, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made a huge save.
No better example than in the third period when Owen Power fell down, leading to a 2-on-0 rush for Boston. Luukkonen read it perfectly, coming across the crease to rob Vinni Lettieri with a great glove save.
He also ended the second period with two huge saves on Cole Koepke, standing right on the edge of the crease.
If Luukkonen needed a rebound cleared or a shot blocked, his teammates were there for him.
Buffalo didn’t panic after Boston scored its two goals.
After Mason Lohrei made it 1-0 in the first period, Bo Byram joined a fast break up ice. He went to Peterka, who found an open Dylan Cozens on the right side. Thompson went to the slot, where Cozens put it right in his wheelhouse. Thompson scored just 54 seconds after Lohrei.
In the third period, Brad Marchand found the back of the net with a power play goal, but Peterka took off up the ice like he was shot out of a cannon, split the defense of Lohrei and Parker Wotherspoon, and broke in alone on Jeremy Swayman for his second goal of the game. That was just 30 seconds after Marchand scored.
Ruff says plays like all of these really lifted the bench.
This is the third time this season Swayman has given up seven or eight goals for the Bruins.
Both Thompson and Peterka were a plus-6 on the night. It’s the first time since January of 1991 when Alex Mogilny and Pierre Turgeon did it.
In his last seven games, Thompson has six goals and four assists for 10 points. In his last 26 games, he has 14 goals and 12 assists for 26 points.
In his last four games, Peterka has four goals and three assists for seven points. In his last 22 games, he has six goals and 16 assists for 22 points.
Buffalo gets Wednesday off, and then will play the Nashville Predators for the first time on Friday night.
That will also be the night that Rob Ray will be inducted into the Sabres Hall of Fame.
The team wants fans to be in their seats by 6 p.m., where Brian Koziol will bring you the ceremony before the 7:05 p.m. puck drop on WGR.
Then on Sunday, the homestand continues with the New Jersey Devils coming to town for the first and only time this season. That’s a 12 p.m. pregame start time.