Jordan Greenway collected two goals and an assist and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 33 saves to fuel the host Buffalo Sabres to a 7–0 rout of the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday, Feb. 13.
JJ Peterka recorded a goal and an assist to boost his point total to six (four goals, two assists) in three career meetings versus the Kings. He had two goals and an assist in the Sabres’ 5–3 win in Los Angeles on Jan. 24.
Buffalo defenseman Rasmus Dahlin and Alex Tuch each scored and set up a goal on Tuesday. Captain Kyle Okposo and Zach Benson also found the back of the net as the Sabres improved to 18–3–1 in their past 22 home games against the Kings.
The offense was more than enough for Luukkonen, who turned aside 15 shots in the third period to preserve his fourth shutout of the season and third in his past eight games.
David Rittich yielded five goals on 17 shots before being replaced by Cam Talbot (five saves) for the Kings, who have lost 15 of their past 19 games (4–9–6).
Buffalo opened the scoring at 4:25 of the first period after an alert play by Peterka.
His initial wrist shot from the slot was denied by Rittich, but the puck squirted behind the goaltender and Peterka circled the net and backhanded it home for his team-leading 19th goal of the season and fifth in as many games.
Greenway doubled the Sabres’ lead with 3:02 left in the first period after taking advantage of a turnover by Los Angeles defenseman Drew Doughty.
With his team on the power play, Okposo deflected Dylan Cozens’ shot past Rittich to give Buffalo a 3–0 lead with 35 seconds remaining in the first period.
Dahlin’s wrist shot from the right circle sailed inside the far post at 6:42 of the second period, and Benson converted from in front just over 7 1/2 minutes later to stake the Sabres to a 5–0 lead.
Tuch’s shot caromed off the post and into the net at 4:30 of the third period, and Greenway tallied again 3:20 later to cap the scoring.
Los Angeles Kings center Anze Kopitar (11) is stopped by Buffalo Sabres goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (1) during the second period in Buffalo, N.Y. on Feb. 13, 2024. (Jeffrey T. Barnes/AP Photo)
