By: Jack Studley | Follow me on Twitter/X @jackstudley13
The Boston Bruins closed out the month of October on Thursday night with a home game against the Buffalo Sabres. This was the second time Buffalo traveled to Boston since the season started, and it will be the last time until next season. Boston entered this game having won their last two home games, and continued that streak with an overtime win against the Sabres.
First Period
The Sabres controlled the game’s start and ensured Joonas Korpisalo was up for the test. The Sabres recorded the game’s first eight shots; it took the Bruins over eight minutes to register a shot on goal. Josh Dunne served a two-minute minor for slashing Mark Kastelic, and the Bruins could not get a shot on frame. Their first shot came from Morgan Geekie on a breakaway chance well over nine minutes into the game.
The Bruins went back on a power play, hoping for some more life than their first attempt. They received that, the offense started to generate chances and get the puck towards Alex Lyon’s cage. Morgan Geekie, the hottest stick in the NHL right now, was left alone on the right side of the ice. He collected the cross-ice feed from Pastrnak and picked his corner, wiring the puck right through Lyon and into the top corner of the net.
Two minutes later, David Pastrnak forced a turnover on the Sabres’ Ryan McLeod, and it was all Pastrnak from there. He had a two-on-one with Elias Lindholm, and Bowen Byram was back defending. Pastrnak tucked the breakaway under Lyon’s pad, giving the Bruins a 2-0 lead while making it look extremely easy.
In the first period, Buffalo outshot the Bruins 13-5, outhit them 11-3, and won the battle in the faceoff circle, but the scoreboard read 2-0 Boston. Marat Khusnutdinov ended the first period in the penalty box, a penalty that the Bruins spent the last 1:58 of the first period killing, giving them a good start to their night on the special teams front.
Second Period
The second period started with a two-second kill, and then David Pastrnak took a hooking penalty, putting the Sabres back on the power play. Joonas Korpisalo almost fumbled the puck halfway through the kill, but stood tall, making some key saves to keep Buffalo off the score sheet and give the Bruins a timely kill.
Elias Lindholm went down the tunnel eight minutes into the period after contact with Jordan Greenway. Lindholm did not see him coming. Lindholm did not return to the game on Thursday. After the game, Sturm said, “We have to reassess tomorrow. I didn’t see the replay yet, but any time you have to help him off the ice, it is usually not a good sign.”
Rasmus Dahlin unleashed his shot on the Sabres’ third power play of the night, getting on the board 16 minutes into the second frame.
With under 30 seconds to go in the second, the Bruins broke out of their defensive zone, led by Tanner Jeannot. Jeannot carried the puck into the offensive zone, dropping it off to Sean Kuraly, who whipped it in on Alex Lyon. It dribbled through his equipment and settled in the crease; Mark Kastelic scored his third of the season after parking himself in the net front area and lunging at the loose puck.
The second period ended with the Bruins up 3-1 over the Sabres. Buffalo poured shots on Joonas Korpisalo during the second, outshooting the Bruins 16-9. The Bruins got back into rhythm in the faceoff dot, winning 11 of the 18 in the second.
Third Period
The third period started slower for the Bruins, with the Sabres getting five of the first six shots on goal. Josh Doan continued the Sabres’ active start to the third. Seven minutes into the final frame, Doan whacked the puck out of the air with his glove, putting it on his stick right outside the crease, setting himself up to beat Korpisalo and cut the Bruins’ lead in half.
Mikey Eyssimont and Peyton Krebs entertained each other with a fight that started right on the blue line. Each guy landed a few solid punches, but Eyssimont slipped, and Krebs jumped on him for the takedown.
Alex Tuch scored the game-tying goal for the Sabres with five minutes to go, making it a 3-3 game late in the third. The Bruins challenged the goal, claiming that Josh Doan pushed Jokiharju into Korpisalo, but the referees disagreed, ruling it a good goal with no goaltender interference. Postgame, Sturm doubled down on the coach’s challenge: “I just looked at it again, I would do it again,” and said it was worth the challenge.
With 1:17 to go, Jordan Greenway took a tripping penalty. The Bruins tried to avoid overtime, but only got one shot off on Alex Lyon before the remaining 77 seconds expired. Buffalo added 11 shots to the Bruins’ six in the third period, but the scoreboard now showed a tie score.
Overtime
The Greenway penalty extended into overtime, with the Garden HDX showing 44 seconds remaining on the minor when the puck dropped. The Sabres killed the penalty, and the game returned to three-on-three. Rasmus Dahlin slipped and fell, and Fraser Minten picked the puck off his stick. Minten swung it to Khusnutdinov, who took off down the ice. With Hampus Lindholm crashing the net, Khusnutdinov took it himself and zipped it by Alex Lyon, winning the game for the Bruins, 4-3.
Joonas Korpisalo stood on his head for the black and gold, making 37 saves on 40 shots to win his second consecutive start. Boston ends their 13-game October schedule at a record of 6-7-0. The Bruins have won their last three home games, and end a three-game homestand on Saturday at 1:00 PM against the Carolina Hurricanes.
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