Alex Tuch’s third career hat trick led the Buffalo Sabres to a 6-2 win over the visiting Chicago Blackhawks on Friday.
Jack Quinn and Dylan Cozens each had a goal and an assist, Rasmus Dahlin had two assists and Zach Benson scored for Buffalo. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen stopped 15 of 17 shots for his 10th win in 25 starts this season.
After struggling through a 13-game winless drought (0-10-3), the Sabres have outscored opponents 13-3 over a two-game win streak.
Tyler Bertuzzi and Seth Jones scored for the Blackhawks, who have lost their last three games. Chicago is 1-10-1 in its last 12 away games.
Blackhawks starting goalie Petr Mrazek allowed four goals on 11 shots before being removed at the first intermission. Arvid Soderblom stopped 22 of 24 shots over the final two periods.
The Sabres scored four times in the first period, beginning with Benson’s tip-in goal at the 9:51 mark. Tuch added another tip-in at 12:23 of the opening frame, and Quinn followed up just 15 seconds later.
It was Buffalo’s second-quickest pair of goals this season. Tage Thompson and JJ Peterka each scored within an 11-second margin in a 5-4 loss to the Colorado Avalanche on Dec. 3.
A Connor Bedard turnover led to another Sabres goal 42 seconds before the first intermission. Quinn took the loose puck and then dropped a pass in the circle to Cozens, who finished to make it 4-0.
Bertuzzi put the Blackhawks on the board with the only goal of the second period. Jones’ tally brought Chicago a step closer at 3:06 of the third period, set up by a canny fake shot from Pat Maroon.
Just as the Blackhawks were building momentum, Tuch struck again at 5:48 of the third period. Tuch’s bad-angle shot from the circle beat Soderblom on something of a weak concession for the Chicago goalie.
Tuch topped off his stellar night at 15:06 of the final frame. He forced a turnover from Alex Vlasic at the Sabres’ blue line, then raced into Chicago’s zone and scored on a breakaway.
–Field Level Media
