Jeff Skinner recorded a hat trick, starting with a goal during a three-goal surge in the first six minutes that chased Seattle Kraken goaltender Joey Daccord, leading the Buffalo Sabres to a 6-2 victory on Monday night.
Tage Thompson and Alex Tuch also scored in the Sabers’ first period, achieving their first win in six attempts against the Kraken. With 71 points, Buffalo is now four points behind Washington for the final Eastern Conference playoff spot with 13 games remaining.
Owen Power added another goal for Buffalo, and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 32 saves, helping the Sabres bounce back from Saturday’s 4-1 loss at Detroit. Luukkonen has allowed three or fewer goals in 26 of his last 27 games.
“That’s just how it’s going to be from now on — we just sort of move on to the next game,” said Skinner, who leads the team with 24 goals. “We have another one tomorrow (at Pacific Division-leading Vancouver), so we won’t be able to think about this one too long. It’s a big challenge tomorrow, and everyone knows we need two points.”
Jordan Eberle gave the Kraken a 1-0 lead just 24 seconds into the game — the third-fastest goal in team history. Matty Beniers scored on a power play late in the first, but Seattle lost its fifth straight game, all at home.
Daccord made four saves before being pulled. Philipp Grubauer replaced him and stopped 23 shots. With 68 points, Seattle is 11 out of a Western Conference playoff berth with 15 games remaining.
This was the second time in three weeks that Daccord was pulled early.
“No. 1, those are quality shots. The first goal against, with Thompson, I mean that’s just a hell of a shot, right?” Kraken coach Dave Hakstol said. “But you get to a point where, even though they’re from pretty good areas, the second and the third ones are still pucks that I know, when Joey’s on, he stops. He sees those, and he makes those saves.”
Thompson tied the game with a shot from just outside the top of the right circle that beat Daccord at the 49-second mark. Skinner gave the Sabres a 2-1 lead at 3:56, and Tuch’s shot from the slot at 5:41 made it 3-1, sending Daccord to the bench.
“I liked the response. I thought it was a great response,” Buffalo coach Don Granato said. “I thought our energy level was high, and whenever we play with a high energy level, we play well, and we did tonight. The response after giving up the goal really early, to respond really quick after that, was outstanding.”
Skinner and Power scored 24 seconds apart midway through the second, increasing the lead to 5-2. Skinner completed his hat trick with 1:58 left in the game.
“He’s deadly. When he’s on, he can score and create plays, and that’s a big burst of life for us, especially when we’ve been struggling to score,” Thompson said. “When he gets hot, he’s hot, and we need him to start feeling that and keep riding him. He does a good job of being positive and making everyone in a good mood. And now that he’s playing like that, he will be even better.”
UP NEXT
- Sabres: Visit the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday night.
- Kraken: Visit the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday night.
