The Boston Bruins scored six goals at Boston Garden on February 6, 1986 and still couldn’t keep pace with the Buffalo Sabres. Dave Andreychuk supplied five goals and an assist in Buffalo’s 8-6 victory, becoming the first player in franchise history to score five times in a single game.
Highlights
Buffalo defeated Boston 8-6 at Boston Garden on February 6, 1986.
Dave Andreychuk became the first Sabre to score five goals in a game.
All five goals came against Doug Keans in the first two periods.
His fifth goal, at 17:15 of the second period, was the game winner.
An assist on Normand Lacombe’s goal gave Andreychuk six points.
Tom Barrasso made 38 saves as Boston outshot Buffalo 44-21.
Tage Thompson matched Andreychuk’s five-goal record on December 7, 2022.
Buffalo Strikes Early at Boston Garden
Mike Foligno opened the scoring just 37 seconds into the game. Andreychuk then added two consecutive goals, giving Buffalo a 3-0 lead by 14:30 of the first period. Boston answered with two quick goals before the intermission, trimming the Sabres’ advantage to 3-2 and setting the stage for another busy period.
Three More Goals in the Second Period
Andreychuk completed his hat trick at 4:40 of the second, but his night was far from finished. He scored three times in the period, beating Bruins goaltender Doug Keans for all five of his goals through 40 minutes. His fifth, scored at 17:15, was his 24th of the 1985-86 season. It gave Buffalo a 7-4 lead and ultimately stood as the game-winning goal.
Boston coach Butch Goring replaced Keans with Pat Riggin for the third period after Keans surrendered seven goals on 17 shots. Riggin faced only four shots in relief, allowing Buffalo’s final goal to Paul Cyr. Andreychuk also assisted on a Normand Lacombe goal, bringing his personal total to six points.
Barrasso Handles the Heavier Workload
While Andreychuk turned seven shots into five goals, Tom Barrasso faced a much busier night in Buffalo’s net. The Sabres goaltender stopped 38 of Boston’s 44 shots, helping Buffalo win despite being outshot 44-21. Ray Bourque led the Bruins with seven shots but was unable to beat Barrasso.
Andreychuk’s performance established a Sabres single-game record that stood alone for more than 36 years. On December 7, 2022, Tage Thompson matched it with five goals against the Columbus Blue Jackets. The record may now be shared, but Andreychuk remains the first Sabre to reach that remarkable mark.
"Then Perreault Said to Rico…": The Best Buffalo Sabres Stories Ever Told
A collection of the greatest Buffalo Sabres tales — from unforgettable moments to iconic personalities in franchise history.
Buy on Amazon