Thompson and JJ Peterka had hat tricks against the Bruins on Tuesday night — a good sign for Lindy Ruff's lineup tweaks.

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.

The Buffalo Sabres 7-2 victory over the Boston Bruins on Tuesday was a positive moment in an otherwise dreary and disappointing season. Tage Thompson and JJ Peterka each registered a hat trick; the first time that a pair of Sabres have scored hat tricks in 17 years (Drew Stafford and Derek Roy did it in January 2008 against Atlanta),

They’ve done so in recent weeks, primarily to condition the five-man defensive unit to handle late-game pressure. But these recent third-period outcomes have emphasized the need for offensive work at 6-on-5, as well. After practice, Sabres coach Lindy Ruff identified the areas needing improvement.