Welcome back to NHL Predictions. Each day, Last Word on Hockey takes a look at the games that are scheduled and offers insight and analysis to help predict who will be victorious in head-to-head matchups.

The Carolina Hurricanes couldn't mount a comeback against the Buffalo Sabres as a Ryan McLeod hat trick was the difference in a 4-2 loss.

Wyatt Johnston followed Tage Thompson and JJ Peterka as the third player to score a hat trick during Tuesday’s slate and became the youngest in franchise history to do so in natural fashion. With every hat trick this season,

Wyatt Johnston followed Tage Thompson and JJ Peterka as the third player to score a hat trick during Tuesday’s slate and became the youngest in franchise history to do so in natural fashion. With every hat trick this season,

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Tage Thompson and JJ Peterka each had a hat trick and an assist to lead the Buffalo Sabres to a 7-2 win against the Boston Bruins on Tuesday night. Thompson and Peterka became the first pair to score a hat trick in the same game for the Sabres since 2008.

Tage Thompson and JJ Peterka each recorded a hat trick and an assist to lead the Buffalo Sabres to a 7-2 win over the visiting Boston Bruins on Tuesday. Thompson scored in each period en route to his seventh career hat trick and first of the season,

Tage Thompson and JJ Peterka each had a hat trick and an assist to lead the Buffalo Sabres to a 7-2 win against the Boston Bruins on Tuesday night.

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Tage Thompson and JJ Peterka each had a hat trick and an assist to lead the Buffalo Sabres to a 7-2 win against the Boston Bruins on Tuesday night. Thompson and Peterka became the first pair to score a hat trick in the same game for the Sabres since 2008.

Seth Jarvis had two goals and sparked the Carolina Hurricanes' big second period in a 7-4 victory against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday in Raleigh, N.C. Sebastian Aho and Jarvis both had a goal and two assists in the five-goal second.

Luukkonen made 25 saves in a 7-2 win over Boston on Tuesday. He allowed an even-strength goal to Mason Lohrei to open the game, and then added a power-play goal by Brad Marchand. Luukkonen is on a roll -- he is 8-4-1 in his last 13 starts with a .

Luukkonen is 4-3-1 in January, and he has played at a mediocre level with a 3.12 GAA and an .893 save percentage. The Bruins will be down three of their regulars on the blue line, so given Luukkonen's recent performance, this could end up being a high-scoring game.

Tage Thompson and JJ Peterka each recorded a hat trick and an assist to lead the Buffalo Sabres to a 7-2 win over the visiting Boston Bruins on Tuesday. Thompson scored in each period en route to his seventh career hat trick and first of the season,