Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - Alex Tuch's third-career hat-trick helped lead the Buffalo Sabres to a 6-2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday night at KeyBank Center. It was the team's second-straight victory after snapping a 13-game winless streak.
The Sabres opened the scoring midway through the first period after Rasmus Dahlin made a pass from the right wing half-wall that was converted in front of the net by Zach Benson.
The goal came on Buffalo's fourth shot on goal in the opening period. They did not allow a shot by the Blackhawks until late in the first.
Buffalo improved their lead to three goals quickly with a pair of goals 15 seconds apart later in the first period.
First, it was Alex Tuch being credited for a goal after getting a piece of a Tage Thompson shot from distance.
On the very next shift, Dylan Cozens made a cross-ice pass on a 2-on-1 rush to Jack Quinn, extending the Sabres' lead to 3-0.
Quinn and Cozens combined for another goal moments later, this time with under a minute remaining in the first. Quinn's pass to Cozens helped create the four-goal advantage at the intermission.
Chicago scored the lone goal of the second period, getting to within three of the Sabres after 40 minutes. Tyler Bertuzzi used a low shot along the ice that beat goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen with less than four minutes to go in the middle frame.
The Sabres were credited with 12 shots on Arvid Soderblom in the second, who replaced Petr Mrazek in goal to start the frame. Chicago recorded eight shots to increase their total to 10 in the game.
Chicago was able to cut the deficit to two goals early in the third period, thanks to a loose puck in the slot. Seth Jones joined the offensive attack, taking a shot from the slot for his third goal of the season.
Tuch was called for a penalty shortly after, giving Chicago their first power play chance of the night. However, the Sabres were able to kill off the shorthanded situation.
Shortly after leaving the penalty box, Tuch was able to beat Soderblom with a shot to restore Buffalo's three-goal lead.
The Sabres' alternate captain completed the hat-trick with just under five minutes remaining in regulation. Tuch used a breakaway chance to extend the lead to 6-2 for Buffalo.
Buffalo finished with 35 total shots on goal in the victory, while giving up just 17 shots to the Blackhawks.
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SCORING RECAP
First Period:
BUF: 9:51 - Zach Benson (6) (Rasmus Dahlin, Bowen Byram); 12:23 - Alex Tuch (10) (Tage Thompson, Rasmus Dahlin); 12:38 - Jack Quinn (5) (Dylan Cozens); 19:18 - Dylan Cozens (8) (Jack Quinn)
CHI: NONE
Second Period:
BUF: NONE
CHI: 16:39 - Tyler Betuzzi (11) (Taylor Hall, Connor Bedard)
Third Period:
BUF: 5:48 - Alex Tuch (11) (Ryan McLeod, Sam Lafferty); 15:06 - Alex Tuch (12) (Unassisted)
CHI: 3:06 - Seth Jones (3) (Pat Maroon, Lukas Reichel)
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Three Stars of the Game:
1.) Alex Tuch - BUF
2.) Jack Quinn - BUF
3.) Dylan Cozens - BUF
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What's next:
The Sabres head back on the road, opening a four-game Western Conference trip with a Sunday afternoon matinee in St. Louis against the Blues. Puck drop is slated for 3 p.m. EST on WBEN News Radio 930. The Steve Foley Law Pregame Show with Brian Koziol begins our coverage at 2 p.m. EST.