National Hockey League
Buffalo 7, NY Islanders 1
When: 7:30 PM ET, Monday, December 23, 2024
Where: UBS Arena, Elmont, New York
Referees: Jean Hebert, Kendrick Nicholson
Linesmen: Steve Barton, Matt MacPherson
Attendance: 17255

Beck Malenstyn scored just 2:07 into the game Monday night for the visiting Buffalo Sabres, who never trailed as they snapped a 13-game losing streak by routing the New York Islanders 7-1 in Elmont, N.Y.

Jiri Kulich posted his first career two-goal game while Rasmus Dahlin collected a career-high four assists for the Sabres, who set a season high for goals while winning for the first time since Nov. 23 -- five days before Thanksgiving.

The Sabres, who were outscored 54-28 during their 13-game skid (0-10-3), scored the first six goals Monday as they posted their most lopsided win since a 7-0 blanking of the Los Angeles Kings on Feb. 13 last season.

The 13-game losing streak, which dropped the Sabres into last place in the NHL, was the third-longest losing streak in franchise history behind an 18-game streak (0-15-3) in 2020-21 and a 14-game streak (0-14-0) in 2014-15.

Kulich scored his first goal with 3:11 left in the first before Jason Zucker, Zach Benson and Jack Quinn scored in a span of fewer than 12 minutes in the second period. Tage Thompson scored an empty-netter with 9:53 left in the third before Kulich scored again with 4:11 remaining.

The 20-year-old Kulich entered Monday with four goals in 25 career games.

The four assists by Dahlin snapped his previous single-game best of three, set three times previously. He had the secondary assist on Kulich's first goal as well as Zucker's goal before collecting the primary assist on the goals by Benson and Thompson.

Goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 27 saves.

Kyle Palmieri scored late in the second for the Islanders, who have lost three of four (1-3-0) and have dropped nine of their last 14 (5-7-2). The seven goals allowed were the most by the Islanders since a 7-0 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins last Dec. 27.

Goalie Ilya Sorokin, who made his 11th straight start, recorded 18 saves.

--Field Level Media

Top Game Performances
 
Buffalo   NY Islanders
Rasmus Dahlin 4 Points Kyle Palmieri 1
Jiri Kulich 2 Goals Kyle Palmieri 1
Rasmus Dahlin 4 Assists Anthony Duclair 1
Jason Zucker 1 Power Play Goals N/A
N/A Short Handed Goals N/A
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen .964 Save Percentage Ilya Sorokin .750
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen 27 Saves Ilya Sorokin 18
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
Buffalo 25 7 1-3 1-1 8 27
NY Islanders 28 1 0-1 2-3 12 37
Upcoming Games
  • NY Islanders will play their next game at home against Pittsburgh. The Islanders have a W/L % of .143 after a win and .524 after a loss.
  • Buffalo will play their next game at home against Chicago. The Sabres have a W/L % of .500 after a win and .261 after a loss.