BUFFALO – After a loss so ugly it felt like it could kill any recent momentum they had generated, you wondered how the Sabres would respond against the Chicago Blackhawks.

Was it simply a one-off or the perhaps the start of a trend? Well, right now, after demolishing the Blackhawks 9-3 on Friday, Wednesday’s embarrassing 6-2 loss to the lowly Calgary Flames feels like a distant memory.

The Sabres, whose penchant for slow starts has forced them to regularly chase games, pounced on the Blackhawks, opening up a 3-0 lead before the first period ended.

“We got the start we wanted, we got the response we wanted,” Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said. “Our battle on the puck was a lot better. We won a lot of battles and it resulted in a lot of goals.”

The Sabres kept their foot on the gas all the night, scoring three goals in each period before a crowd of 17,058 fans in KeyBank Center. They hadn’t scored nine goals Dec. 21, 2023.

“I thought we had a great response,” said Sabres center Tage Thompson, who scored a goal and two points. “We just outworked them, honestly. Obviously, they’re coming in off a back-to-back. We made it a tough game for them all night. Thought we won puck battles, (were) strong on pucks and we got to the net.”

Sabres winger Josh Doan opened the scoring at 13:57 and scored again in the second period. He entered the night having scored just once in the previous nine games.

Six other Sabres scored, including winger Jack Quinn, who ended a 13-game goal drought. Winger Alex Tuch registered four assists, giving him 402 in his career.

Winger Jason Zucker recorded one goal and three points in his return after missing eight games (illness).

Nine Sabres registered at least two points.

Center Ryan McLeod and defensemen Mattias Samuelsson and Jacob Bryson scored the Sabres’ other goals.

Fresh off Wednesday’s feeble effort – they constantly lost battles and allowed four goals in the third period after racing back to tie it – the Sabres needed a night like Friday to restore their confidence.

“I thought we got to our forecheck right away,” Tuch said. “We were hounding pucks all night. We were playing quick in the neutral zone and then defensively, I don’t think we gave them too much. Once you get multiple lines getting some good scoring opportunities and cashing in on some goals there, it’s really easy to roll them over and have everyone playing and playing well.”

When the Blackhawks, who lost 3-2 to the Seattle Kraken on Thursday at home, showed some life, the Sabres answered back.

“They’re in a spot last night where they lost a close one, and I think when you get an early one or two on them in a situation like this, it’s hard as a group to stay positive,” Doan said. “And I think, at the other end of it, we were a team that was a little bit frustrated with how we performed.”

In his first start since Nov. 13 and just his fifth appearance this season, Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen performed well, making 20 saves, one less than his counterpart, Arvid Soderblom.

Late in the second period, Luukkonen extended his left pad to stymie budding superstar Connor Bedard’s breakaway attempt.

In his limited action this season, the Finn has sometimes failed to give the Sabres a critical save.

“I think the biggest save was the breakaway that was a big moment in the game, and I think we’ve talked about big saves at the right time,” Ruff said. “… The save he made on the breakaway was a moment inside the game. It could’ve made it 5-3 at the time.”

Tyler Bertuzzi scored twice for the Blackhawks. Alex Vlasic scored their other goal.