Kyle Okposo scored a hat-trick in a convincing 6-3 win for the Buffalo Sabers over the Detroit Red Wings at the KeyBank Center on Thursday.

The home team scored four unanswered goals in the second period. Okposo’s two wins in under four minutes of this third will have been fatal. Fans threw their hats as the captain completed his hat-trick into an empty net late in the game.

It was Casey Mittelstadt who hit the net first. Well-placed near the opponent’s cage, he jumped for a return just as the numerical lead was over. He continued to build on his record in the second half, bringing the score up to 3-0. For his part, Jeff Skinner continued his good work this season with his 17th goal very early in the second half.

The Wings attempted a comeback in the third period and scored three goals, but it was too little, too late. The Michigan team didn’t pull off the same stunt the Pittsburgh Penguins did the day before when they won the game in overtime with a four-goal comeback.

Dominik Kubalik, more twice than once, and Jordan Oesterle provided the answer for the guests.

It’s been a return for the Sabers since the holidays since the last two games in Buffalo were canceled due to a winter storm. So they’re rested players who hopped onto the ice for the founding of New York State.

Alex DeBrincat plays the heroes

Alex DeBrincat took command by hitting the back of the net in overtime for the Ottawa Senators to defeat the Washington Capitals 4-3 at Capital One Arena.

The Canadian number 12 had also put the two teams into overtime with just over five minutes left in the game.

However, thanks to Alex Ovechkin’s 23rd of the season, it was the local team that moved the ropes first. Dylan Strome added less than two minutes later by accepting a throw-in from teammate Conor Sheary, who fired a free shot into the top of the net. The visitors’ response was quick, Jake Sanderson scoring a goal without assists.

Evgeny Kuznetsov and Tim Stutzle completed the ranking for their respective teams.