By: Jake Ferraro | Follow me on Twitter/X @18Jxxx18
Before the Boston Bruins play their first preseason game this month against the Washington Capitals, the first of two games against the Buffalo Sabres in the 2026 Prospects Challenge had arrived. Some of the Bruins’ top prospects had a golden opportunity to showcase their talent before the preseason arrived. In their first chance to showcase their skills, the Bruins’ prospects took the ice.
The Bruins defeated the Sabres 6-2 at LECOM Harborcenter in Buffalo in the first game of the 2026 Prospects Challenge. Seeing prospects show off their potential in a four-goal win is a good sign for the Bruins. The Bruins got tremendous effort from both new and veteran prospects.
“Our guys came out with a lot of jump, which I was really pleased about,” said Providence Bruins head coach Trent Whitfield following the game.
First Period
Twenty-five seconds into the game, it wouldn’t take long for a new Bruin to make his mark. Forward Attilio Biasca, who signed with the Bruins after playing in Switzerland for a decade, scored the opening goal of the game to give Boston an early 1-0 lead. Scoring a goal immediately is a great way to make a great first impression.
“It gives you confidence,” Biasca said on his immediate goal.
Unfortunately for the Bruins, Sabres forward Dyland Dumont scored a power play goal less than five minutes later to tie the game at one. With 8:07 remaining, forward Dans Locmelis scored to give the Bruins a 2-1 lead, which was the final goal of the period. Goaltender Max Lundgren made ten saves in the period.
Locmelis had shoulder surgery in February that kept him out for the rest of last season, and he said his shoulder feels good. Locmelis also said he wasn’t even thinking about his shoulder and felt no pressure for the game. After the game, Whitfield called Locmelis an unbelievable two-way hockey player.
Second Period
For the opening 1:27, the Bruins began the second period shorthanded, but successfully killed off the remainder of Riley Duran’s penalty that carried over from the first period. After killing off Duran’s penalty, the Bruins’ offense got right back to work, securing a 4-1 lead with 12 minutes remaining in the period.
Forwards Nolan Renwick and James Hagens each scored a goal in a span of 1:16. The Sabres did a goal back when forward Doman Szongoth scored the team’s second power play goal of the game. However, with 2.1 seconds remaining in the period, forward Thomas Zocco scored to give the Bruins a 5-2 lead heading into the second intermission.
Third Period
After the Bruins scored five goals against goaltender Scott Ratzlaff through two periods, the Sabres replaced him with Talyn Boyko to begin the third period. Even with the change in between the pipes, Hagens continued to shine when he scored his second goal of the game on the power play to extend the Bruins’ lead to 6-2 at 7:13 of the period. Hagens’ goal was the only goal of the entire period. Lundgren finished the game making 29 saves to earn the win, and Hagens has already shown he’s made tremendous strides since last season.
The second and final game of the Prospects Challenge will be tomorrow at LECOM Harborcenter, with puck drop scheduled for noon ET.
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