The Boston Bruins pepperd the Buffalo Sabres with 47 shots on goal, on their way to a 5-1 win over Buffalo on Wednesday night at KeyBank Center.
Kyle Okposo's fifth goal of the season came more than halfway through the opening period and gave the Sabres a 1-0 lead over Boston. The forward used a Bruins defender as a screen and kept his shot low to the ice to beat Jeremy Swayman. Rasmus Asplund was credited with the lone assist on the game's first goal.
Boston answered nearly three minutes later when Aaron Dell and the Sabres could not control a loose puck in front of the goal. It eventually found Patrice Bergeron, and the Bruins captain scored his seventh goal of the year. The score tied the game 1-1 late in the opening period. Less than a minute later Charlie Coyle beats Dell to give the Bruins their first lead of the night, 2-1.
The Bruins extended the lead to 3-1 late in the frame when David Patrnak recorded his sixth goal of the year. It was the forward's second point of the night after he recorded the primary assist on Boston's first goal of the night. Mike Rielly made it 4-1 when he scored on the team's 22nd shot of the period.
John Hayden was awardeda penalty shot opportunity after he was taken to the ice on a partial break away. However, Swayman stopped the chance to keep Boston in front by three goals midway through the middle frame.
Buffalo outshot the Bruins 14-7 in the second period, but failed to cut into their three-goal deficit. Dustin Tokarski replaced Dell in goal to start the period and did not allow any goals on seven shots on goal.
Zemgus Girgensons was assessed a five-minute major penalty for boarding, as well as a game misconduct, for a hit on Charlie McAvoy along the boards in the Boston zone. McAvoy was helped by the Bruins training staff to the locker room after the hit.
Taylor Hall scored the only power play goal during the major penalty. It was his fifth goal of the season, and was assisted by Craig Smith and Coyle. Hall's goal late in the third made the score 5-1 in favor of the Bruins.
Game Summary
Goal Summary
First Period
BUF: 10:56 - Kyle Okposo (5) (Rasmus Asplund)
BOS: 13:29 - Patrice Bergeron (7) (David Pastrnak, Brad Marchand)
14:20 - Charlie Coyle (6) (Nick Foligno)
16:59 - David Pastrnak (6) (Charlie McAvoy, Patrice Bergeron)
19:00 - Mike Rielly (2) (Nick Foligno, Jakub Zboril)
Second Period
BUF: none
BOS: none
Third Period
BUF: none
BOS: 15:26 - Taylor Hall (5) PPG (Craig Smith, Charlie Coyle)
Penalty Summary
First Period
BUF: 15:30 - Rasmus Dahlin (2 min., hooking)
BOS: 2:25 - Jakub Zboril (2 min., cross checking)
Second Period
BUF: 1:42 - Colin Miller (5 min., fighting)
BOS: 1:42 - Nick Foligno (5 min., fighting)
9:22 - Derek Forbort (2 min., tripping)
Third Period
BUF: 13:46 - Zemgus Girgensons (5 min., boarding)
13:46 - Zemgus Girgensons (game misconduct)
BOS: none
Losi and Gangi Three Stars
1. Patrice Bergeron
2. David Pastrnak
3. Nick Foligno