Penguins' Jeff Carter explodes for 4 goals against Sabres

Jeff Carter certainly had himself a night on Thursday.

The Pittsburgh Penguins forward had his way with the Buffalo Sabres, potting an impressive four goals, including one marker in each period of the game.

His first tally came on a two-on-one with linemate Jared McCann teeing him up for a wicked one-timer.

His second goal came on the power-play as he received a pass from Kasperi Kapanen who was set up as the bumper. Carter, again, quickly ripped the puck off his stick to beat goaltender Michael Houser.

His hat-trick marker was the result of a veteran play by the 36-year-old. Carter made a beeline for the net and was able to put home a rebound that practically bounced right onto his stick.

His fourth lamp-lighter of the contest may have been his finest work. Carter corralled a pass from blueliner Mark Friedman and as he made his way out from the back of the net, rifled a back-hander upstairs past Houser.

The goal-scoring outburst marked the first-time in his 16-year career that Carter recorded four goals in one game. It’s also the first time he’s registered a hat-trick since March 29, 2018, when Carter potted three goals for the Los Angeles Kings in a 4-2 victory over the Arizona Coyotes. He became the fourth player to score four goals in a game this season, joining Andrew Copp, Rocco Grimaldi and Jakub Vrana. No player in the NHL has scored more in a single game this year.

Carter was acquired by the Penguins prior to this season’s trade deadline from the Kings for two conditional draft picks. Los Angeles also retained 50% of the forward’s salary in the deal.

Pittsburgh defeated Buffalo in Thursday’s contest by a score of 8-4.

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