The NHL saw two hot factors remain that way on Saturday night, including the now first-place Buffalo Sabres on the road. Sam Reinhardt and Tage Thompson scored in the shootout, as the Sabres won their ninth straight game, 3-2, over the Detroit Red Wings. The shootout lasted seven rounds, as the Sabres jumps over the idle Tampa Bay Lightning for the top spot in the Atlantic Division. The Lightning will be back in action on Sunday afternoon, when they host the New Jersey Devils.
The win streak for the Sabres is tied for the second-longest in franchise history, just one shy of their record of 10 in a row, which they did to begin the 2005-2006 season. Linus Ullmark also stepped up between the pipes all night, stopping 31 shots, including six of the seven shots he faced in the shootout. Thompson's goal was the official game-winner, as he also scored to give his team the lead in the third period. Jeff Skinner did stay hot for Buffalo, scoring the team's first goal after finding the back of the net twice on Saturday, including the game-winner in overtime at home against the Montreal Canadiens. The Sabres sit at 16-6-2 for 34 points on the season. They did not get their 16th win of the year last season until February, and they finished in last place in the division.
Dylan Larkin and Anthony Mantha both scored for Detroit, who has also been hot to overcome a slow start to their season. They do come away with a point, giving them 23 on the season, which is just four points out of the final Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference. Andreas Anthanasiou did score in the shootout for Detroit, who was coming off a 3-1 loss to the Washington Capitals. The Sabres will be back home on Tuesday night to host the San Jose Sharks, looking for their 10th straight victory.
The Sabres were not the only headline out of the NHL on Saturday night, as Patrik Laine stole some by doing something that hasn't been done in the league in over seven years. Laine scored five times on Saturday night to lead the Winnipeg Jets, 8-4, over the last-place St. Louis Blues. Laine is the first player to score five times in one game since Johan Franzen did it for the Red Wings against the Ottawa Senators in February of 2011.
The 20-year-old Laine is just the third player to score five times in a game before the age of 21, joining Wayne Gretzky, who did it twice before that age, and Don Murdoch, who did it just once. Saturday was the 61st five-goal game in NHL history, and Laine achieved it with 15 minutes left in the game. Although, he could not pull off a six-goal game, which was most recently done by Darryl Sittler of the Toronto Maple Leafs against the Boston Bruins in February of 1976. Following Saturday's big performance, Laine now leads the NHL with 16 goals in 10 November games.
The win streak for the Sabres is tied for the second-longest in franchise history, just one shy of their record of 10 in a row, which they did to begin the 2005-2006 season. Linus Ullmark also stepped up between the pipes all night, stopping 31 shots, including six of the seven shots he faced in the shootout. Thompson's goal was the official game-winner, as he also scored to give his team the lead in the third period. Jeff Skinner did stay hot for Buffalo, scoring the team's first goal after finding the back of the net twice on Saturday, including the game-winner in overtime at home against the Montreal Canadiens. The Sabres sit at 16-6-2 for 34 points on the season. They did not get their 16th win of the year last season until February, and they finished in last place in the division.
Dylan Larkin and Anthony Mantha both scored for Detroit, who has also been hot to overcome a slow start to their season. They do come away with a point, giving them 23 on the season, which is just four points out of the final Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference. Andreas Anthanasiou did score in the shootout for Detroit, who was coming off a 3-1 loss to the Washington Capitals. The Sabres will be back home on Tuesday night to host the San Jose Sharks, looking for their 10th straight victory.
The Sabres were not the only headline out of the NHL on Saturday night, as Patrik Laine stole some by doing something that hasn't been done in the league in over seven years. Laine scored five times on Saturday night to lead the Winnipeg Jets, 8-4, over the last-place St. Louis Blues. Laine is the first player to score five times in one game since Johan Franzen did it for the Red Wings against the Ottawa Senators in February of 2011.
The 20-year-old Laine is just the third player to score five times in a game before the age of 21, joining Wayne Gretzky, who did it twice before that age, and Don Murdoch, who did it just once. Saturday was the 61st five-goal game in NHL history, and Laine achieved it with 15 minutes left in the game. Although, he could not pull off a six-goal game, which was most recently done by Darryl Sittler of the Toronto Maple Leafs against the Boston Bruins in February of 1976. Following Saturday's big performance, Laine now leads the NHL with 16 goals in 10 November games.
