The Bruins took a short-lived 1-0 lead on Mason Lohrei’s goal in the first period, but the Sabres rattled off the next four goals to ice it.

BUFFALO -- Tage Thompson and JJ Peterka each scored a hat trick and had an assist for the Buffalo Sabres in a 7-2 win against the Boston Bruins at KeyBank Center on Tuesday. Thompson got his 7th NHL hat trick, Peterka his first.

Tage Thompson and JJ Peterka each had a hat trick and an assist to lead the Buffalo Sabres to a 7-2 win against the Boston Bruins on Tuesday night. Thompson and Peterka became the first pair to score a hat trick in the same game for the Sabres since 2008.

Boston Bruins left wing Cole Koepke (45) collides with Buffalo Sabres goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen in the crease during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes) AP

The lead lasted all of 55 seconds. The B’s top line got hemmed in its own end for much of the shift and, after it finally pushed it out of the zone, the players got caught in a change. On a Sabre 4-on-3, Matt Poitras got lost out high and Dylan Cozens connected with the wide-open trailer Thompson, who ripped a slapper past Swayman.

Defeating the Sabres would have allowed the Bruins to pass the Ottawa Senators again in the Atlantic Division standings. Thus, the Bruins threw away a golden opportunity in this matchup against Buffalo.