- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Avery Hayes' 2-goal debut propels Penguins past Sabres
Fellow rookie Ben Kindel also scored twice as Pittsburgh snapped a 2-game skid
Feb. 6, 2026 at 3:15am
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
Avery Hayes scored twice in his NHL debut, leading the Pittsburgh Penguins to a 5-2 road victory over the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday. Fellow rookie Ben Kindel also found the back of the net twice for the Penguins, who snapped a 2-game losing streak. Tage Thompson and Jason Zucker scored for the Sabres, who have gone 1-2-1 in their last 4 games.
Why it matters
This was a breakout performance for the young Penguins, who were able to bounce back from a brief slump and get a big road win against a divisional opponent. The Sabres' recent struggles have put them in a precarious position in the playoff race, making this a crucial loss.
The details
Zucker scored on the Sabres' first shot of the game, but Hayes responded with two goals in the first period to give the Penguins the lead. Kindel extended the advantage in the second period before Thompson brought the Sabres within one. However, Novak and Kindel (empty net) sealed the victory for Pittsburgh in the third.
- The game was played on Thursday, February 6, 2026.
- Zucker scored 1:46 into the contest.
- Hayes scored his first goal with 10:42 left in the first period.
- Hayes scored his second goal with 1:13 left in the first period.
- Kindel scored his first goal with 12:16 left in the second period.
The players
Avery Hayes
A 23-year-old undrafted rookie forward making his NHL debut for the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Ben Kindel
An 18-year-old rookie forward who scored two goals for the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Tage Thompson
A star forward for the Buffalo Sabres who scored his 30th goal of the season.
Jason Zucker
A forward for the Buffalo Sabres who scored against his former team.
Arturs Silovs
The goaltender for the Pittsburgh Penguins who made 27 saves.
What they’re saying
“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”
— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident
“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”
— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee
The takeaway
This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.
