The Senators, Canadiens, Sabres, and Red Wings are all hoping to exit their rebuilds, but which team is in the best position to do so?

The lead lasted all of 55 seconds. The B’s top line got hemmed in its own end for much of the shift and, after it finally pushed it out of the zone, the players got caught in a change. On a Sabre 4-on-3, Matt Poitras got lost out high and Dylan Cozens connected with the wide-open trailer Thompson, who ripped a slapper past Swayman.

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 night.

The Sabres have the assets to entice Vancouver into a trade. The bigger question is what, exactly, Buffalo might have to give up.

The Pittsburgh Penguins trade chatter has focused far more on the exit door than who or what might be the return. Such is the state

McLeod will return to the lineup for the Sabres on Saturday, just in time to make his return to Rogers Place and play his former team, the Edmonton Oilers, for the first time. McLeod has missed the past three games with what he described as a “nagging” upper-body injury.

With trade speculation swirling about Buffalo Sabres center Dylan Cozens, 20-year-old Jiri Kulich impressed coach Lindy Ruff on the first line.

Levi has been on a spectacular run in Rochester, going 12-3-1 with a 2.33 goals-against average and .913 save percentage. He took the loss Friday night in a shootout against Lehigh Valley in Blue Cross Arena despite stopping 30 of 32 shots.

‘There’s a lot that goes into that I don’t really think about,” Kozak said after Thursday’s practice at KeyBank Center, reflecting on his recent back-and-forth between rosters. “I just think about playing the best I can, trying to get better every day. Just trying to make those decisions a little tougher.”

In the city known for its wings, two Sabres sizzled on Tuesday night. Tage Thompson and JJ Peterka both scored hat tricks as Buffalo’s top-line wingers led the charge back from an early deficit to beat the Bruins 7-2 in opening a four-game homestand at KeyBank Center.

Tage Thompson and JJ Peterka each record a hat-trick on Tuesday night to help power the Buffalo Sabres to a 7-2 victory over the Boston Bruins at KeyBank Center. A complete game recap from WGR:

Tage Thompson and JJ Peterka had hat tricks, and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 25 saves as Buffalo rolled to a 7-2 win over Boston.