The Boston Bruins started a two-game series against the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday night where they were heavy favorites to win. Boston entered the game 28-14-6 and 4th place in the East Division where Buffalo entered 13-30-7 and last place of the East.
Boston got off to a hot start with a goal within 1:16 into the game; David Pastrnak scored with assists coming from Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand. Boston then gave up a terrible turnover in the defensive zone which led to a goal by Casey Mittelstadt to tie the game 1-1.
Sam Reinhart got sent to the box for tripping leading to a power play goal by David Krejci assists by Charlie McAvoy and Craig Smith ending the first period 2-1 Bruins lead.
The second period didn’t see any goals but doesn’t mean there wasn’t any action. Both teams were getting chippy and to at a point I was telling myself to just let these boys fight to clear the air the old-style way.
When the puck dropped for the third period it only took 1:43 for the Sabres to tie the game at two after a hit on Craig Smith led to a turnover in the offensive zone for Boston. Charlie Coyle then got a takeaway in the neutral zone to lead to a game deciding goal to put Boston up 3-2, ending a 28-game goal drought.
Boston wasn’t done there when they added insurance to their lead with a nasty dangle by David Krejci around the defender and dumps it off to the former Sabre Taylor Hall.
Buffalo pulled the goalie with three minutes left which led to Brad Marchand to launch a full ice open net goal for a shorthanded goal which gave Marchand the lead with the most shorthanded goals in franchise history (31).
Boston takes the win 5-2 over Buffalo. Great game Brad Marchand who had a goal and an assist and Tuuka Rask saving 29 out of 31 shots. Boston takes on Buffalo for the final time this season on Saturday with a 1:00 PM EST start time
Photo Credit: Elise Amendola