NHL: Buffalo 7, Washington 1

BUFFALO, N.Y., Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Maxim Afinogenov and Miroslav Satan recorded hat tricks Wednesday night, sending Buffalo storming past Washington, 7-1.

Martin Biron posted his first win as a starter in six weeks.

Afinogenov and Satan became the first Buffalo teammates to score three goals in the same game since Alexander Mogilny and Yuri Khmylev had hat tricks against the New York Rangers on Dec. 31, 1992.

Goalless in 10 games since Dec. 3, Afinogenov personally gave the Sabres a 2-0 lead, scoring with 77 seconds left in the first period and 6:54 into the second.

He capped his first career hat trick -- and Buffalo's five-goal second period -- with 95 seconds to go when he put his own rebound past rookie goaltender Maxime Ouellet.

Satan continued to feast on the Capitals, getting a pair of goals during a two-man advantage in the second period and giving the Sabres a 7-1 lead at 5:15 of the third.