Something Was Off All Night For Buffalo
Maybe it was the jitters from being in the biggest game of their NHL lives? Maybe it was losing Ostlund too? Maybe it was both? Bottom line, this was not the same Buffalo Sabres team that destroyed the Bruins the other night. Boston came to play, no doubt. They were not great tonight either though, just slightly better. And that was enough.
Score: Buffalo Sabres 1-2 OT Boston Bruins
Shots: BUF 25-29 BOS
Buffalo Sabres Goals: Dahlin 1st PPG (Zucker, Thompson)
Boston Bruins Goals: Lindholm 2nd (unassisted) Pastrnak 2nd (Lindholm)
Plus 1: Unlimited Power (Play)!
Mark Kastelic for the Bruins took an early and unnecessary roughing penalty on Zach Benson as Buffalo got an early power play. Taz poked the goalie and Kastelic threw a punch for it. It would cost them dearly. The much maligned man advantage FINALLY came though for the Sabres. Rasmus Dahlin cashed in on his first of the playoffs after a sweet second attempt pass from just below the goal line by Jason Zucker. It was their first power play goal of these playoffs and seemingly forever. Goaltender Jeremy Swayman was slow to react and Dahlin was able to corral it in tight and fire the puck from nearly on his knee. His shot found twine as Buffalo took the all important 1-0 lead. Tage Thompson picked up an assist on the play as well and Keybank Center was rocking.
Noah Ostlund took a tripping penalty for Buffalo soon after but the Sabres were able to kill it with some help from the goalpost. Shots were 5 to 3 for the home team twelve minutes in. Both clubs exchanged rushes and sustained pressure but not many shots on goal. Buffalo then took a blow when Noah Ostlund hobbled off the ice to the Sabres dressing room. It appeared he couldn’t put weight on one leg so it was a shock when he retuned to the game a few minutes later. It didn’t last though, as Noah took a skate around for a minute and went back to the room. More on that later. Meanwhile, Boston put on a late period push, testing Alex Lyon several times. Playing desperate hockey, the Bruins had a wave of good chances as a result of Buffalo not being able to clear the zone several times. Thankfully, Lyon King was up to the challenge, turning aside five shots in the final two minutes of play. Boston finished with the edge in SOG at 9-5 in the first frame.
Minus 1: Down a Player, All Tied Up
The second period started with the news that Ostlund would not return, he was ruled out with a lower body injury. Buffalo was now short a center. Hopefully it is not too serious for the young player. Now, back to the game. Around six minutes in, Josh Doan attempted a spin-a-rooni around the Boston defense and got taken down, earning the Sabres their second power play. Buffalo got several good looks, they were moving the puck around with ease. Boston got great goaltending from Swayman though with some timely blocks as well. A good looking power play but the Sabres could not extend the lead.
Buffalo then got a little sloppy with Boston putting on some pressure. After two scrambles in front, Elias Lindholm came up with the puck on a failed clear. He spun and fired as his shot deflected off Lyon’s pad and in. It was now a tie game with the Sabres offense much quieter than the previous tilt in Boston. The Sabres then nearly jammed one in at the side of the net. Soon after, the Bruins came close again with another shot off the iron. Ryan McLeod then took an iffy tripping penalty but Buffalo’s PK came up large. Morgan Geekie had the best chance but his shot just sailed over the net on a close call. Boston then took a penalty as the power play expired (high stick on Logan Stanley) and the Blue and Gold went back to the power play. This one was much less effective as Buffalo had to chase the puck down the ice far too often. The Sabres had the edge in shots at 8 to 7 but the Bruins got the big goal to even the game.
Even 1: Just Not Much From Either Team
The Sabres seemed nervous to start the third and turned the puck over just seconds in for a quality chance for Boston. Lyon was there to make the save. Alex Tuch was then called for high sticking at the five minute mark and it was back to work for the PK. Lyon was their best line of defense with two solid saves to help kill it. Buffalo finally got a few chances with Peyton Krebs and Tuch in tight but Swayman was there. Ryan McLeod as well.
With nine minutes to go we were still tied at one each. The Sabres didn’t have their A game going but fans worriedly cheered them on. They only had 17 shots at this point and Swayman looked sharp. Face-offs were a problem again as the Bruins won 12 of 13 in the period so far. Buffalo then had a glorious chance with two minutes to go. Tyson Kozak’s backhander in tight was stopped by Swayman. That would be the Sabres last good chance of the period as time wound down to zero. To overtime we would go, the first of the playoffs in this series for both teams.
Minus 2: You Could See it Coming
Close call to start as Lyon had the puck froze under his pad but the ref had a slow whistle. Boston swopped in and jammed his pad as the puck slid into the goal. It was waved off right away with intent to blow the whistle. The teams traded rushes with little opportunity either way. Buffalo needed a hero, and fast. They would not find one. After Alex Tuch was stopped in close, who else but David Pastrnak got in behind the D soon after and broke in alone on Lyon. The Sabres’ netminder did all he could, stretching out on the deek. Pasta being the Spaghetti Monster that he is, tucked it home for the 2-1 OT victory. Game over and a huge lost opportunity for Buffalo to wrap it up at home and rest for round two.
Final Thoughts:
Buffalo played nervous for most of the contest and their offense went dormant during the game far too often. Losing Ostlund hurt but the Sabres have more than enough skill up front to cover him. It was just not to be tonight, you could see it from way back at the end of the first period. Buffalo falls to 1-2 at home these playoffs and now must return to the bear cave to try and close out this series. There is a real chance this could go seven games now, the last thing this team needed. The Sabres need to show a better sense of urgency next time out.
Game 6 is Friday May 1st at 7:30 pm ET back at TD Garden. We get to stew on this loss for 3 days, isn’t that nice.