By: Liz Rizzo | Follow me on Twitter @pastagrl88
It was all quiet on the Bruins front as they drop their first loss against the Buffalo Sabres 6-4. In the second game of a back-to-back, listless offensive play and defensive breakdowns cost the Bruins a much-needed two points. In the last few moments of the final period, the team would mount a comeback but subsequently were unable to squeak out a win as they end a six-game winning streak.
GAME BREAKDOWN
A little hop to the start of the game came the way of the Buffalo Sabres as Tuukka Rask was forced to make some early stops. Boston would answer back with some added pressure down the Sabres end as Steven Kampfer wristed the puck past Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, making it 1-0 early in the period. Taylor Hall and Rask were credited with the assist. There were a few moments when the Bruins had a hard time clearing their zone that almost led to a Buffalo goal as the puck hit the near post.
The Sabres continued to make plays in front of the Bruins net forcing Rask to smother the puck. Gameplay was more evident in the Boston zone as Buffalo hustled to tie the game. The Bruins pursued the puck but were unable to create any scoring chances as the Sabres kept up the pressure. With a little over four minutes left to the period, Matt Grzelcyk would be sent to the penalty box for tripping against Arttu Ruotsalainen.
Seconds into the power play, Sam Reinhart was able to tie the game 1-1. A flurry of shots from Boston saw the puck hit the crossbar as the Bruins looked to regain the lead. Boston would be on the man-advantage as Ruotsalainen was called on a slashing penalty against David Krejci. Limited energy and sloppy play from the Black and Gold was noticeable as the period ended.
END OF FIRST PERIOD: BOS-1, BUF-1
SHOTS ON GOAL: BOS-5, BUF-10
Another quiet start from the Bruins as they began the second period, however, Boston slowly turned up the pressure as they kept the puck down in the Sabres end. The Bruins had a few near-missed scoring chances as they continued to find a spark to their gameplay. After a few moments of frenzied play up and down the ice, Buffalo’s Rasmus Dahlin wristed his fifth goal of the season, making it 2-1. Matt Grzelcyk was called for a hooking penalty against Jeff Skinner, giving the Sabres the man advantage.
As turnovers continued to haunt the Bruins, the Sabres would add some cushion to their lead as Casey Mittelstadt scored his ninth goal of the season, making it 3-1. Four-on-four hockey would end the period as Craig Smith was called for holding against Dylan Cozene (who was also sent to the box for embellishment).
END OF THE SECOND: BOS-1, BUF-3
SHOTS ON GOAL: BOS-13, BUF-16
Arttu Ristolanien would score his fourth goal of the season making it 4-1. Jaroslav Halak took over netminder duties as the Bruins looked to get control of the game. Brad Marchand would be sent to the box for a slashing penalty that unfortunately led to Sam Reinhart netting his second power-play goal of the night, making it 5-1. Moments later Boston’s Nick Ritchie would score on the rebound cutting the lead to 5-2.
Building off the momentum, the Bruins’ Kevan Miller would net his first goal of the season, making it 5-3. In the last three minutes of the period (and with an empty Boston net), Taylor Hall would score as the Bruins were within one goal, 4-5.
Despite the effort from Boston, Buffalo’s Sam Reinhart would get the hat trick as he sailed the puck into an empty net giving the Sabres their first win against the Bruins this season.
FINAL SCORE: BOS-4, BUF-6
TOTAL SHOTS: BOS-40, BUF-34
NEXT GAME: Sunday, April 25th, 2021 against Pittsburgh Penguins with puck drop at 3:00pm
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