Chances were there for the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday night, but the blue and gold went 0-for-6 on the power play en route to a 2-0 defeat at the hands of the Boston Bruins at KeyBank Center.
With about eight minutes gone in the opening period, the Bruins opened the scoring. Star winger Brad Marchand cashed in on a loose puck in front of Dustin Tokarski, as Marchand's 24th goal of the season made it 1-0.
Boston upped their lead to 2-0 just three minutes into the middle stanza, when defenseman Connor Clifton's shot trickled through Tokarski. Not knowing where the puck was, Tokarski shuffled back into the crease, which knocked the puck into the net. It was Clifton's first goal of the season.
Inside the final three minutes of regulation, the Sabres had a golden opportunity to tie the contest. Consecutive penalties to Bruins forward Nick Ritchie and defenseman Jeremy Lauzon gave Buffalo a 5-on-3 power play, which the Sabres then paired with pulling Tokarski for a 6-on-3 edge.
The blue and gold were unable to capitalize on the advantage, though, as Boston goalie Tuukka Rask put the finishing touches on his 51st-career shutout and first of the 2020-21 season.
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Losi and Gangi Three Stars of the Game:
1.) Tuukka Rask - BOS
2.) Brad Marchand - BOS
3.) David Pastrnak - BOS
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What's Next:
The blue and gold will host the Bruins again on Thursday night in Game 2 of their three-game series with Boston. Puck drop at KeyBank Center is set for 7 p.m. ET with the Paul William Beltz Pregame Show with the Bulldog starting at 6 p.m. ET on the radio home of the Sabres - WGR Sports Radio 550.