February 15th, 2013 by Chris Chirichiello

The Bruins road trip did not get off on the right foot in Buffalo on Friday night as the Sabres scored three unanswered goals to beat the Bruins 4-2. The Sabres are the only team in the National Hockey League – to this point – to beat the Bruins in regulation and they have done that twice.

If the Bruins were to take a positive out of this game, it was the reemergence of Dougie Hamilton. He got back on track with his first NHL goal and an assist in the losing effort. Milan Lucic did the honors of quickly fetching the puck for Hamilton after beating Ryan Miller for the power-play goal. (Yes, it was a power-play goal. Can you believe it?)

Hamilton had a number of family and friends at the game in Buffalo tonight and for them to see his first NHL goal was something he will never forget.

Hamilton now has one goal and five assists in his first 12 games as a rookie. The minus three must change, but that comes with the territory of being a rookie. Mistakes will happen and it will change. Hamilton needed to regain his confidence while on the ice. Although he had a few giveaways tonight, he is starting to become the Dougie Hamilton we saw earlier in the season-quickly moving the puck, looking for the net and giving up the body.

If the Bruins want to have a successful road trip, Dougie must get back on track and although it was in a losing effort, a goal and an assist in the first game away from the TD Garden is not a bad start for the youngster.

The defense as a whole must regain its form. It was non-existent tonight. Anton Khudobin was not to blame for the loss. Chara was out of place on the game-tying goal, but I wouldn’t fret over that either.

Three unanswered goals in the third period is unacceptable and it ruined what was a very special night for Hamilton.

Here is a clip of Hamilton’s first career goal via NHL VideoCenter.