BUFFALO, N.Y. — In an impressive performance, Alex Tuch achieved a hat trick to lead the Buffalo Sabres to a decisive 6-2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday evening.

The Sabres started strong, with Dylan Cozens and Jack Quinn each contributing a goal and an assist during the first period. Goals from Zach Benson and Tuch expanded the Sabres’ lead to 4-0. Goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen faced minimal resistance, making just two saves out of 15 attempts during the first frame.

In the third period, Tuch added two more goals to his tally after Seth Jones managed to narrow the gap to 4-2 for Chicago. This win marked Buffalo’s second consecutive success, a welcome turn after a frustrating 13-game winless streak (0-10-3) that had temporarily placed them below the Blackhawks in the overall standings of the NHL.

Rasmus Dahlin continued to shine, achieving two assists following a standout performance earlier in the week where he recorded four assists in a lopsided 7-1 victory over the New York Islanders on Monday.

Tyler Bertuzzi netted the lone goal for the Blackhawks. Goalie Petr Mrazek struggled in the first period, giving up four goals on just 11 shots before being replaced by backup Arvid Soderblom, who managed to make 22 saves.

The defeat left the Blackhawks with a 5-14-2 record on the road, as they ended a three-game trip without a win, marking their fifth consecutive loss away from home. Nonetheless, they managed to secure a three-game winning streak at their home arena just before this stretch.

Meanwhile, the Sabres’ recent series of blowout victories have not only revitalized their performance but also alleviated some of the frustrations from fans after a challenging period marked by the team’s third-longest winless streak in its history.

A crucial moment during the game came when Cozens assisted Quinn on a one-timer just 15 seconds following Tuch’s earlier tip-in, bringing the score to 3-0 within the first 13 minutes.

Notably, the Blackhawks found themselves trailing by three goals before registering their first shot on net at the 13:11 mark of the opening period.

Looking ahead, the Blackhawks are set to host the Dallas Stars on Sunday and will soon face the St. Louis Blues in the NHL Winter Classic at Wrigley Field on Tuesday. Meanwhile, the Sabres will travel to St. Louis for their match on Sunday.