Kings Defeat Sabres 3-1 in Season Opener

Anze Kopitar's third-period natural hat trick propelled the Los Angeles Kings to a 3-1 comeback victory over the Buffalo Sabres in their season opener. The Sabres initially led with a shorthanded goal from Alex Tuch, but Kopitar equalized just 13 seconds into the final period and later scored the go-ahead goal on a power play, followed by an empty-netter. Despite dominating the shot count 34-22 and having several scoring opportunities, Buffalo struggled offensively, extending their scoreless streak to three games. Sabres coach Lindy Ruff expressed frustration over his team's inability to convert chances, echoing concerns from previous seasons about their scoring woes. Fans voiced their disappointment as Buffalo fell to 0-3, while Kings goalie Darcy Kuemper made crucial saves, including stopping a penalty shot. The Sabres will look to bounce back against the reigning Stanley Cup champions, the Florida Panthers, on Saturday.