Smith’s 3 goals lift Bruins past Sabres

BOSTON — Craig Smith scored three goals Saturday to help the Boston Bruins complete their season-series dominance over the Buffalo Sabres with a 6-2 victory. With its ninth victory in 11 games, Boston slipped into third place in the NHL’s East division, a point ahead of the Islanders. New York hosts the Rangers on Saturday night.

“It was cool seeing the hats flying,” Smith said of his second career hat trick, but first with Boston. “I don’t see it very often for myself.”

Nick Ritchie added a goal and an assist, and Sean Kuraly and Patrice Bergeron also had a goal for Boston. Rookie goalie Jeremy Swayman made 17 saves in his eighth start, and David Krejci had three assists — all on Smith’s goals.

“We’re heading in the right direction,” Kuraly said.

The Bruins went 7-1 against the Sabres this season and improved to 21-4-1 in the teams’ last 26 meetings.

Arttu Ruotsalainen scored, and Riley Sheahan added a shorthanded goal for Buffalo, which has lost six of seven.

“I think a lot of the goals came from self-inflicted mistakes,” Sheahan said. “We weren’t on our game. … I guess we got it handed to us.”

Buffalo rookie goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, making his third straight start, got his left leg caught awkwardly next to the post late in the closing seconds of the second period. He dropped to the ice and had to be helped off skating slowly after the period ended. He stopped 26 shots before Dustin Tokarski played the third.

“No update until we get back (home),” Sabres interim coach Don Granato said. “It was a tough day all around. It was a great opportunity to get him some minutes and now that’s in question.”

Smith’s first goal had made it 1-0 just 1:21 into the game when he redirected Krejci’s pass into the net.

His second goal increased it to 5-1 in the third, and he completed the hat trick by redirecting Krejci’s pass by Tokarski from the slot for a power-play score with 5:55 to play, sending some hats flying to the TD Garden ice from the limited-capacity crowd.

“He’s a popular guy in the room,” Boston coach Bruce Cassidy said. “Obviously, with COVID it’s hard to get to know guys.”

Kuraly scored off the rebound of Ritchie’s shot from just outside the crease, moving the Bruins ahead for good with 3:22 left in the opening period.

Bergeron made it 3-1 in the second, scoring off a rebound by slipping a backhander past Luukkonen’s stick as he was falling to one knee.

FAMILY OUTING

Bergeron’s three young children — two boys and a girl — and his wife, Stephanie, were seated in the loge level watching the game.

His family sat next to the glass during pregame warmups and he was able to chat with them, breaking into a smile.