Read the reports from Thursday’s games in the NHL.
Jeff Skinner scores twice in Sabers blowout win
Jeff Skinner had two goals and an assist as the Buffalo Sabers dominated the Toronto Maple Leafs 9-3 on Thursday night.
Tage Thompson had a goal and two assists and captain Kyle Okposo scored twice for the Sabres.
Buffalo bounced back nicely after a 9-4 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets two days earlier.
Rasmus Dahlin, Owen Power, Jordan Greenway and Jack Quinn also scored in the victory. Devon Levi stopped 25 shots.
Auston Matthews, Calle Jarnkrok and Max Domi scored the Maple Leafs’ goals.
William Nylander collected an assist to extend his streak of games with at least one point to 10.
Ilya Samsonov conceded five goals on 19 shots. He was removed from the game following Thompson’s goal.
Martin Jones then allowed four goals on 16 shots.
The Maple Leafs had not allowed nine goals since November 18, 2014, when they were defeated 9-2 by the Nashville Predators.
Associated Press
Pavel Buchnevich allows the Blues to win
PHOTO MARTA LAVANDIER, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Joel Hofer (30) and Pavel Buchnevich (89)
Pavel Buchnevich scored twice and the St. Louis Blues defeated the Florida Panthers 4-1 on Thursday.
Buchnevich also took part in Jordan Kyrou’s goal.
Alexey Toropchenko was the other scorer for the Blues, who have won three of their last four games.
Robert Thomas had three assists and Joel Hofer stopped 38 shots, only being beaten by Eetu Luostarinen.
Sergei Bobrovsky made 23 saves for the Panthers, who have lost four of their last five games.
Florida will host the Golden Knights on Saturday afternoon.
This will be the first meeting with the Knights since the Stanley Cup Final in June, where Vegas triumphed in five games against the Panthers.
Colby Guy, Associated Press
Crosby shines in Penguins’ 2-1 win over Hurricanes
PHOTO GENE J. PUSKAR, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Sidney Crosby was named the game’s first star.
Sidney Crosby got a 19e goal this season before scoring again in the shootout on Thursday, guiding the Pittsburgh Penguins to a 2-1 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes.
Alex Nedeljkovic made 23 saves before the shootout, where he closed the door three times.
Teuvo Teravainen thwarted him in the middle period, after Crosby’s success in the first period.
Pyotr Kochetkov blocked 24 shots.
The Hurricanes resisted the opponent’s five power plays, including one in overtime.
The Penguins have lost just once in their last five outings.
Rickard Rakell of the Penguins came close to scoring his first goal this season. He hit the post with a backhand shot in the first period.
The Penguins will visit the Ottawa Senators on Saturday night.
Associated Press