Final Score: Buffalo 7, Washington 1

Buffalo, NY (Sports Network) - Maxim Afinogenov and Miroslav Satan both notched hat tricks to lead Buffalo to a 7-1 win over Washington at HSBC Arena.

Andrew Peters added his first career NHL goal and Martin Biron made 25 saves for the Sabres, who won for the third time in four games overall and posted their third straight win over Washington.

Jeff Halpern scored for the Capitals, who lost their third straight and remain one victory shy of their 1,000th franchise win. Maxime Ouellet stopped 35-of-42 shots.

Afinogenov opened the game with consecutive goals to put Buffalo ahead 2-0.

His breakaway goal, with 1:17 left in the first period, came on the backhand.

He beat Ouellet with a low slap shot from above the left faceoff circle at 6:54 of the second period to put Buffalo ahead 2-0.

Peters pushed the Sabres' advantage to 3-0 just 51 seconds later. Positioned near the left corner of the crease, he tipped a pass from Chris Taylor into the net.

Halpern's goal from Sergei Gonchar and Kip Miller got the Capitals within 3-1 with 8:58 left in the second.

But the Sabres ended the period with three straight tallies to open a 6-1 edge. Satan registered a pair on the power play 22 seconds apart. Both came with Washington skating two men short.

Afinogenov earned his first career hat trick by converting a rebound with 1:35 left in the second to cap the flurry.

Satan registered his fifth career hat trick 5:15 into the third period. He and Afinogenov became the first Sabres to both score three goals in a game since Alexander Mogilny and Yuri Khmylev accomplished the feat December 31, 1992.

Game Notes

Dmitri Kalinin and Derek Roy both finished with two assists for the Sabres, who are unbeaten in their last three at home (2-0-1)...Biron, who was 1-7-2 in his 10 previous starts, won for the first time this month...The Capitals fell to 3-8-2 in their last 13...Satan has 23 goals in 31 career goals against Washington, including six goals in three games this season.