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NHL round-up: Kucherov scores natural hat-trick as Lightning thrash Sabres

Tampa Bay Lightning's Nikita Kucherov (middle) celebrates a goal against the Buffalo Sabres
Tampa Bay Lightning's Nikita Kucherov (middle) celebrates a goal against the Buffalo SabresJeffrey T. Barnes / CTK / AP

The National Hockey League's six-game slate on Wednesday kept fans up through the night as more milestones and big moments happened!

Lightning 8-3 Sabres

Nikita Kucherov recorded his third natural hat-trick and the eighth total of his career, bringing his season goal total to eight. Brandon Hagel (11) finished with a pair of goals, the second one assisted by Kucherov. 

Scott Sabourin scored his first goal of the season on Conor Geekie's first assist, while Yanni Gourde's first goal of the year came off rookie Sam O'Reilly's first NHL assist and point. 

Meanwhile, John Carlson scored his sixth goal and racked up four assists, earning his 800th career point. It marked his first-ever five-point game of his 17-year career.

Despite the blowout, the Sabres actually battled back after going down 4-1. Josh Doan (4), Jason Zucker (2), and Tage Thompson (11) scored three straight before the Kucherov exploded in the third. 

Lightning record: 12-4-1 (W1)

Sabres record: 8-7-3 (L2) 

Rangers 3-1 Flames

Mika Zibanejad had his first multi-goal game of the season after scoring the game's first two goals, bringing his season total up to five. He had previously gone seven games without scoring. 

Adam Klapka (4) cut the lead in half for Calgary at the start of the third period. Tye Kartye (7) sent home the empty-netter to seal the game. 

Alexis Lafreniere put up two assists for the second time in the past three games as he now has 11 on the year. 

In just two starts this season (2-0 record), Rangers goalie Joonas Korpisalo has allowed four total goals on 58 save attempts. He finished Wednesday's matchup against the Flames with 29 saves. 

Rangers record: 11-8-1 (W1)

Flames record: 8-10-1 (L1)

Oilers 3-2 Flyers

Connor McDavid extended his season-opening point streak to 20 games after recording his league-leading 38th assist on Zach Hyman's second goal of the night.

Tyson Foerster (4) and Travis Sanheim (3) tied it up for the Flyers, but Evan Bouchard (11) sent home the overtime winner. 

Oilers record: 14-3-3 (W3)  

Flyers record: 5-10-6 (L1)

Golden Knights 5-3 Mammoth

Ivan Barbashev (4) led the way with two goals for the Knights. Mitch Marner recorded his first three-assist game of the season and the first since December 19th, 2025.

Victor Olofsson scored his fifth goal of the season and picked up two assists in his three-point night.

Utah rallied to make it 4-3 in the third, but Brett Howden (6) sent home the game-sealer. 

Golden Knights record: 11-6-2 (W2)

Mammoth record: 10-8-1 (L3)

Predators 4-2 Ducks

Jayden Strubel, Shane Wright and Nils Hoglander had a goal and an assist each for the Predators, who stretched their winning streak to six games.

Steven Stamkos scored the empty-netter to add insurance for the visitors.

Cutter Gauthier continued his red-hot scoring Ducks run with a goal in his seventh straight game, with 14 coming during that run.

Predators record: 10-4-5 (W6)

Ducks record: 10-8-1 (L1)

Penguins 3-2 Sharks

Ben Kindel scored the lone goal in a shootout for the visiting Penguins against the Sharks, which turned out to be the game-winner.

Kindel also scored alongside Samuel Girard in regulation, before Macklin Celebrini and Mason Marchment scored in the final half of the third period to take the game to overtime.

Penguins record: 7-10-2 (W1)

Sharks record: 8-11-2 (L1)

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