Boston Bruins left wing Cole Koepke crashed into Buffalo Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen in the crease during the second period of their NHL game on Tuesday night in Buffalo. The collision happened on January 28, 2025, as both teams battled for control. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)
Tage Thompson and JJ Peterka lit up the scoreboard for the Buffalo Sabres, each scoring a hat trick and an assist in a dominant 7-2 victory over the Boston Bruins on Tuesday night. This marked the first time since 2008 that two Sabres players netted hat tricks in the same game.
Zach Benson also contributed a goal, while goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 26 saves to keep the Bruins in check. Despite goals from Mason Lohrei and Brad Marchand, Boston struggled to keep pace. Jeremy Swayman made 26 saves, but the Bruins' recent momentum—winning five of their last eight—took a hit.
The NHL Roundup—
Jets 4, Canadiens 1
In Montreal, Kyle Connor powered the Winnipeg Jets with two goals, helping secure a 4-1 win over the Canadiens. Connor Hellebuyck delivered a solid performance with 24 saves, while Mark Scheifele and Rasmus Kupari added to the tally. Gabriel Vilardi chipped in with two assists.
Montreal started strong with Juraj Slafkovsky scoring first, capitalizing on a slick pass from Nick Suzuki. However, Winnipeg took control as Connor tied it up in the first before Scheifele and Connor’s second goal sealed the game. The Canadiens have now dropped three in a row after winning 10 of their previous 13.
Blackhawks 4, Lightning 1
Chicago’s Connor Bedard put on a show, scoring from an almost impossible angle to spark a 4-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning. The 19-year-old rookie, the top pick in the 2023 draft, fired a pinpoint shot through a tiny gap for his 14th goal of the season.
Landon Slaggert, Ryan Donato, and Teuvo Teravainen also found the net for the Blackhawks, who overcame an early deficit to earn their third comeback win in 18 games this season. Arvid Soderblom made 34 saves, holding Tampa Bay to just one goal from Brayden Point. Goalie Jonas Johansson managed 16 saves, but the Lightning have now lost four of their last five.
Hurricanes 4, Rangers 0
Carolina’s Andrei Svechnikov put up a stellar performance with two goals and an assist, leading the Hurricanes to a commanding 4-0 shutout over the New York Rangers. Frederik Andersen stood tall with 22 saves, earning his first shutout of the season and the 28th of his career.
Sebastian Aho and Seth Jarvis also scored, helping Carolina secure its fifth win in six games. The Rangers, who had a 10-game point streak before losing their last two, struggled against Andersen’s rock-solid goaltending. Igor Shesterkin made 22 saves for New York.
Islanders 5, Avalanche 2
The New York Islanders surged in the third period, scoring four times to claim a 5-2 victory over the Colorado Avalanche. Simon Holmstrom led the charge with two goals and an assist, while Ilya Sorokin made 30 saves to backstop the win.
Bo Horvat, Anders Lee, and Alexander Romanov also scored for New York, which has now won five straight games. Colorado kept it close early, with Artturi Lehkonen and Jack Drury netting goals, but the Islanders pulled away late. Horvat’s 18th goal of the season sealed the win with 8:37 left on the clock.
