Wild 6, Sabres 3: Nino Niederreiter scored twice during a frantic first period and capped his first career hat trick with an empty-net goal in the third as host Minnesota snapped its four-game losing streak.

Ryan Carter and Kyle Brodziak each netted a goal and set up another while defenseman Jared Spurgeon also tallied for the Wild, who outshot the Sabres 20-5 in the first period to set a franchise record for most shots in an opening session. Darcy Kuemper allowed two goals on as many shots before being replaced by Niklas Backstrom, who made 25 saves.

Zemgus Girgensons recorded a goal and an assist while defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen and Torrey Mitchell each netted a tally for the Sabres, who have dropped five in a row (0-4-1). Jhonas Enroth turned aside 33 shots as Buffalo eclipsed the two-goal plateau for just the second time in 18 games but have yet to score more than three.

After Ristolainen opened the scoring 63 seconds into the game, the teams combined for three goals in a 17-second span - a record for both clubs and two seconds shy of the NHL mark. Carter bunted the puck past Enroth at 6:07, Niederreiter put the Wild ahead seven seconds later and Girgensons answered at 6:24 with a shot that beat Kuemper high to the stick side - and chased the netminder in the process.

Brodziak gave Minnesota the lead for good less than three minutes later, beating Enroth from below the end line on the left side, and Niederreiter redirected Mikael Granlund's pass past the netminder while on the power play with 2:08 left in the first period for a 4-2 advantage. Spurgeon cashed in during a man advantage with 6:10 remaining in the second as he pinched from the left point and converted a cross-slot pass from former Sabre Jason Pominville.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Wild C Jordan Schroeder made his debut with the team after appearing in 56 games with Vancouver over the previous two seasons, becoming the 19th Minnesotan to play for the franchise. ... Sabres RW Patrick Kaleta appeared in his first game since Oct. 10, 2013 due to a torn ACL and facial fractures. ... Spurgeon returned to the lineup after missing five contests with a shoulder injury.