Read the reports from Wednesday’s NHL games.
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Shane Pinto pockets four points in a victory for the Senators
Shane Pinto scored a goal and totaled four points, and the Ottawa Senators used a five-goal spurt in the first period to defeat the Buffalo Sabers 6-2 on Wednesday.
Artem Zub opened the scoring at 2:37 and the Senators led 4-0 before nine minutes of play had elapsed. Brady Tkachuk, Boris Katchouk, Jakob Chychrun and Drake Batherson each had a goal and an assist.
Joonas Korpisalo stopped 34 pucks to improve his record to 5-1-0 in his last six starts.
JJ Peterka and Connor Clifton responded for the Sabers in this duel between two teams virtually excluded from the playoffs in the Eastern Conference.
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen was ejected from the game after the Senators’ fourth goal. In relief, Quebecer Devon Levi shone by giving up only once on 32 shots.
The Sabers are eight points out of the final playoff spot in the East.
American rookie Jack Quinn returned to action after missing 23 games with a lower body injury. He was cleared of the scoresheet and showed a differential of -3 in 15:41 of play.
John Wawrow, Associated Press
The Lightning wins 3-1 against the Bruins
PHOTO CHRIS O’MEARA, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Brayden Point
Brayden Point scored his 42e goal of the season to break a tie in the second period and the Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the Boston Bruins 3-1 on Wednesday.
Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 23 pucks to help the Florida team improve to 7-0-1 in their last eight games. She thus came within two points of the Toronto Maple Leafs and third place in the Atlantic section.
Point and defenseman Victor Hedman were back after missing one game with lower-body injuries.
Mitchell Chaffee and Nikita Kucherov were the other scorers in the victory.
Linus Ullmark made 28 saves for the Bruins, who won their last game 4-3 against the Florida Panthers. Danton Heinen hit the target for the visitors.
Mark Didtler, Associated Press