Buffalo Dominate Chicago 9-3 With Big Second-Period Push

The Buffalo Sabres delivered one of their strongest performances of the season on Friday evening, defeating the visiting Chicago Blackhawks with a commanding 9-3 victory. The game featured fast scoring, strong teamwork, and an energetic offense that the Blackhawks could not match throughout the night.

Ryan McLeod and Mattias Samuelsson were responsible for one of the biggest highlights when they scored just eight seconds apart in the second period. This quick scoring burst was the fastest pair of goals by the Sabres since April 19, 2013, when Cody Hodgson and Nathan Gerbe scored six seconds apart during a win over the New York Rangers. The moment gave Buffalo a strong push and widened the gap that Chicago struggled to close afterward.

The Sabres came into this matchup looking to bounce back after losing six of their previous eight games. They responded in the best possible way. Josh Doan led the offense with two goals, showing excellent positioning and quick reactions around the net. Jason Zucker, back in the lineup after missing eight games with an illness, made an immediate impact with a goal and two assists. McLeod, Tage Thompson, Jack Quinn, Bowen Byram, and Jacob Bryson each contributed with a goal and an assist, showing how balanced Buffalo’s attack was throughout the game. Alex Tuch also stood out by collecting four assists, helping drive several key scoring plays.

In the net, goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen kept the Sabres in full control by making 20 saves. His steady presence allowed Buffalo to play freely on offense without worrying about mistakes at the back.

The Blackhawks, meanwhile, had a difficult night despite a few strong moments. Tyler Bertuzzi scored twice, showing his ability to fight for rebounds and finish around the crease. Alex Vlasic added another goal, while Sam Rinzel and young star Connor Bedard each recorded two assists. However, Chicago, who had played the night before and lost after surrendering a two-goal lead to Seattle, seemed unable to keep up with Buffalo’s pace. Goalie Arvid Soderblom made 21 saves but faced constant pressure.

Buffalo opened the scoring at 13:57 of the first period when Doan followed his own rebound and scored after redirecting a pass from Tage Thompson. Zucker extended the lead just over a minute later with a sharp one-timer from the left side. The Sabres then capitalized on a power play when Byram redirected a pass from Tuch to make it 3-0.

Chicago finally responded before the first period ended. Bertuzzi grabbed a rebound in front and backhanded it into the net, reducing the Sabres’ lead to 3-1.

Early in the second period, McLeod scored with a quick shot at 5:42, and just eight seconds later, Samuelsson fired in another to make it 5-1. Although Vlasic scored to make it 5-2, Doan restored the four-goal difference by scoring again late in the period, giving Buffalo a 6-2 advantage.

The Blackhawks opened the third period with a power-play goal from Bertuzzi, but any momentum quickly faded when Thompson scored for the fifth straight game at 1:56, putting Buffalo up 7-3. Quinn added another goal from the high slot, and Bryson closed the night with the team’s ninth goal, completing a dominant showing.

Buffalo’s strong offense, fast tempo, and confident finishing made this a convincing victory, and the team will look to build on this momentum in their upcoming games.