Sam Reinhart scores the lone Buffalo goal in the 6-1 loss to Colorado.
By Heather Engel / NHL.com Independent Correspondent
BUFFALO, N.Y. — Andre Burakovsky had a goal and three assists for the Colorado Avalanche in a 6-1 win against the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center on Tuesday.
Valeri Nichushkin had a goal and two assists for the Avalanche (29-16-6), who have won four of their past five games. Philipp Grubauer made 23 saves.
The Sabres (23-23-7) have lost four of five.
Carter Hutton allowed five goals on 13 shots before being replaced by Jonas Johansson, who made 13 saves in his NHL debut.
Samuel Girard gave the Avalanche a 1-0 lead at 13:12 of the first period when he got to a loose puck in the bottom of the right face-off circle.
Burakovsky scored on a 2-on-1 at 13:57 to make it 2-0.
Sam Reinhart deflected a Jake McCabe shot to cut it to 2-1 with one second remaining in the period.
Nazem Kadri took a cross-ice pass from Nichushkin and put Colorado ahead 3-1 one minute into the second period, and Nikita Zadorov made it 4-1 when he slipped a backhand five-hole at 4:23.
Nichushkin extended the lead to 5-1 when he scored from the high slot at 10:58, chasing Hutton, and Mikko Rantanen pushed it to 6-1 at 12:59 when he scored from the left circle on the rush.
Up next
The Sabres continue their homestand on Thursday at 7 pm against the Detroit Red Wings as they look to improve on their 1-3 mark through the first 4 games of the homestand.