BOSTON (AP) – Craig Smith scored three goals Saturday to help the Boston Bruins complete their season-series dominance over the Buffalo Sabres with a 6-2 victory. With its ninth victory in 11 games, Boston slipped into third place in the NHL’s East division, a point ahead of the Islanders. Nick Ritchie added a goal and an assist, and Sean Kuraly and Patrice Bergeron also had a plan for Boston. Rookie goalie Jeremy Swayman made 18 saves in his eighth start, and David Krejci had three assists – all on Smith’s plans. New York hosts the Rangers on Saturday night.
The Bruins went 7-1 against the Sabres this season and improved to 21-4-1 in the last 26 meetings. Arttu Ruotsalainen scored, and Riley Sheahan added a shorthanded goal for Buffalo, which has lost six of seven. Buffalo rookie goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, making his third straight start, got his left leg caught awkwardly next to the post late in the closing seconds of the second period. He dropped to the ice and had to be helped off, skating slowly after the period ended. He stopped 26 shots before Dustin Tokarski played the third.
Smith’s first goal had made it 1-0 just 1:21 into the game when he redirected Krejci’s pass into the net. His second goal increased to 5-1 in the third, and he completed the hat trick by turning Krejci’s key by Tokarski from the slot for a power-play score with 5:55 to play. It’s his first hat trick with Boston. Kuraly scored off the rebound of Ritchie’s shot from just outside the crease, moving the Bruins ahead for good with 3:22 left in the opening period. Bergeron scored 3-1 in the second, scoring off a rebound by slipping a backhander past Luukkonen’s stick as he fell to one knee.
FAMILY OUTING
Bergeron’s three young children – two boys and a girl – and his wife, Stephanie, were seated in the loge level watching the game.
His family sat next to the glass during pregame warmups, and he was able to chat with them, breaking into a smile.
BREAKDOWN
Sheahan’s score made it 1-1 in the opening period. Defenseman Jacob Bryson sent a clearing pass through the center with the Sabers shorthanded two players. Just as Sheahan’s penalty expired, he collected the puck on scored on a clean breakaway.
WEAK SHOWING
The Sabres were outshot 17-4 in the opening period and didn’t reach double digits in shots on goal until midway into the second. Boston outshot them for the game, 43-19.
UP NEXT
Sabers: Host the Islanders on Monday, the first consecutive night at home against them.
Bruins: Travel to the Devils on Monday for the opener of back-to-back nights against them in New Jersey.
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