In this match, the Latvian forward spent 11 minutes and 27 seconds on the ice, during which he used two power plays, blocked one home shot, lost both shots and accumulated a positive efficiency coefficient of +1.
Rasmus Dahlin, John Jason Peterka and Alex Tuck each scored two goals and an assist for Jordan Greenway, while Kyle Okposo and Zach Benson each scored a goal.
“Sabres” goalkeeper Uko Pekka Lukkonen saved 33 home shots, reaching his fourth “dry” game of the season and of his NHL career in general.
In another match, Latvian goalkeeper Elvis Merzlikins did not go on the ice on Tuesday, but his Columbus “Blue Jackets” lost to the Ottawa “Senators” with a score of 3:6 (1:3, 2:2, 0:1).
The goal of the Columbus club was guarded by Daniil Tarasov, who managed 24 of the 29 home shots, but once the puck flew into the already empty “Blue Jackets” goal. On the opposite side, Anton Forsberg, who returned to the field after an injury, saved 37 of 40 shots.
Brady Tkaczak stood out among the winners with a “hat trick”, Claude Giroux scored 1+2, and Erik Brannström and Ridley Greig scored once more.
“Blue Jackets” line-up accurate shots in the account of Dmitry Voronkov, Jake Roslovic and Boone Jenner.
The “Sabres” are in 13th place in the Eastern Conference with 50 points in 52 games, while the “Blue Jackets” are in the last 16th position with 42 points.
Meanwhile, the Tampa Bay Lightning beat the Eastern Conference leader Boston Bruins 3-2 (1-0, 1-2, 0-0, 0-0, 1-0) in the shootout series.
Bruins captain Brad Marchand played his 1000th game in the NHL and had two assists, but the team lost in the shootout. Marchans played all 1,000 matches in the “Bruins” shirt and with 912 (397+513) is the unit’s fifth all-time leading scorer.
In the regular time, after the accurate shots of Eric Chernak and Nikita Kucherov, the home team went ahead with 0:2, however, by the end of the second period, Charlie McAvoy and James van Riemsdyk equalized. There were no further goals, but the only post-game shot was made by visiting forward Brayden Point.
In another game, Bobby McMann scored his first hat trick in his NHL career, helping the Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Saint Louis Blues 4-1 (2-0, 0-1, 2-0) at home.
Until this game, McMann had played 36 games in the NHL and scored two goals.
William Nylander stood out among the winners with an accurate shot, while Alexey Toropchenko scored the only goal for the visitors.
In another match, the Montreal Canadiens celebrated a convincing victory at home, defeating the Anaheim Ducks 5-0 (0-0, 3-0, 2-0).
The first pick of the 2022 NHL draft, Juraj Slafkovskis, scored his first three-point (1+2) game in the winning team, Nick Suzuki scored 2+1, and Jake Evans and Brandon Žiňak scored a goal each.
“Canadiens” goalkeeper Caden Primo had his first “dry” match in his 28th game in the NHL, stopping all 13 visitors’ shots. The home team threatened the opponent’s goal 38 times.
Meanwhile, in Tuesday’s most productive game, the Edmonton Oilers beat the Detroit Red Wings 8-4 (2-1, 1-2, 5-1) at home.
Connor McDavid set a career record for the winners with six assists in a match, but this is the second six-point game for the forward in the NHL.
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins stood out in the winning team with 2+1, Evans Bouchard collected 1+2, Cody Seasey and Leon Draisaitl scored 1+1 each, and Zack Hyman, Dylan Holloway and Evander Kane also scored.
1+1 each for Alex Debrinket, Patrick Kane and David Peron for the visitors, but another accurate delivery for Joe Veleno.
