Final: Sabres 7, Bruins 2 - Tage Thompson and JJ Peterka both record hat tricks for Buffalo as Swayman struggles in net for Bruins

After winning their previous two games last week, the Bruins play a disappointing game in Buffalo losing to the Sabres 7-2. 

In the first period, the Bruins and Sabres both picked up a goal. Mason Lohrei scored the first goal of the game dancing around the blue line and firing a shot past Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen closer to the net.

Later in the period, the Sabres tied the game with Tage Thompson scoring his first goal on a one-timer in transition.

Things got out of hand in the next period. Jeremy Swayman allowed two goals in a poor defensive period with Thompson scoring his second goal of the game and also assisting on Buffalo's third goal from JJ Peterka.

Down 3-1 going into the third period, the Bruins didn't do anything to help themselves get back into the game. Thompson completed his hat trick early in period, and Boston had no answers when it came to stopping Buffalo's top line.

Brad Marchand scored Boston's second goal on the power play, but right after Marchand's goal, Peterka scored his second of the game that erased any chance for a Bruins' comeback. Buffalo added onto their lead with Peterka recording a hat trick of his own, and with a minute left in the game the Sabres poured salt in the wound with a power play goal from Zach Benson.

Overall, Buffalo looked like the more motivated team in this contest. From the start of this game, Boston lacked any energy, and as the game progressed, the Bruins looked morally defeated. A combination of bad defense and poor goaltending resulted in six goals from Buffalo's top line, and the Bruins had no way of stopping Thompson and Peterka. Definitely one of worst losses for the Bruins this season.

The Bruins will look to regroup themselves heading back to Boston as the Winnipeg Jets come to town on Thursday. Puck drop for this game will be at 7 p.m.

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WHO: Bruins (25-20-6) vs Sabres (18-26-5)
WHEN: 7 p.m.
WHERE: KeyBank Center, Buffalo
TV: NESN
RADIO: 98.5-FM The Sports Hub

LIVE BOX SCORE

ROSTERS

PROJECTED LINES

Boston

Geekie - Zacha - Pastrnak

Marchand - Poitras - Coyle

Frederic - Lindholm - Lettieri

Jones - Beecher - Brazeau

Zadorov - Peeke

Callahan - Carlo

Lohrei - Wotherspoon

Swayman

Korpisalo

Buffalo

Peterka - Kulich - Thompson

Zucker - Cozens - Tuch

Benson - McLeod - Quin

Malenstyn - Krebs - Lafferty

Dahlin - Byram

Samuelsson - Power

Bryson - Jokiharju

Luukkonen

Reimer

PREGAME NOTES

The Boston Bruins travel to Buffalo facing off against the Sabres for the second time this season. The Bruins are currently on a two game winning streak.

Charlie McAvoy and Hampus Lindholm both returned to Bruins’ practice on Monday, per MassLive. Neither will play on Tuesday at Buffalo, but their return signals a significant step closer to playing.