Boston, MA (WGR Sports Radio 550) - The Buffalo Sabres are a win away from a First Round clinch in the Stanley Cup playoffs. Fueled by a four-goal first period, the blue and gold took a commanding 3-1 series lead over the Boston Bruins with Sunday afternoon's 6-1 victory at TD Garden.
The Sabres got the party started early on Sunday. Finally, it was the first time in the series that the blue and gold scored the game's opening goal. Just 4:17 into the first, Peyton Krebs wristed home his first goal of the playoffs skating right down the slot.
Krebs gives Buffalo a 1-0 advantage
Just three-minutes later, Josh Doan doubled the Sabres' advantage. It was some "just desserts" for Doan, who was hit behind a play moments earlier by Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy. The hit went uncalled. Doan got even on the scoreboard, and made it 2-0 Buffalo.
Doan makes Boston pay on the scoreboard
Two-minutes after Doan's tally, Zach Benson joined the fun. Benson attacked the net hard and continued the onslaught in the opening period. It was 3-0 before the halfway point of the opening frame, as Buffalo kept their proverbial feet on the gas.
Benson gets his first playoff goal
The accelerator was nearly pushed through the floor later in the frame, when Bowen Byram made it 4-0 Sabres. Bruins goalie Jeremy Swayman was lost, completely out of position, when Byram accepted a pass from Owen Power. Byram had almost the entire net to shoot at, as he fired home his third goal of this first-round series.
Byram continues leading by example from the blue-line
Though the second period was scoreless, the same could not be said about the third. The Sabres returned to their scoring ways, and added two more to their bloated total courtesy of Beck Malenstyn and Alex Tuch.
About five-minutes into the frame was, fittingly, when Malenstyn deflected home Buffalo's fifth goal of the afternoon.
Malenstyn's deflection from way out makes it 5-0
The Sabres' scoring was capped off by Alex Tuch about 90-seconds after Malenstyn's, when he rammed home his third goal of the series off a feed from Tage Thompson.
With just 40-seconds left in regulation, the Bruins spoiled Alex Lyon's shutout. Forward Sean Kuraly scored a goal for pride, pulling Boston within five.
The convincing win puts the Sabres in the driver's seat for whatever remains of this first-round series. Buffalo's first chance to send the Bruins packing will be Tuesday evening, back home at KeyBank Center.
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SCORING RECAP:
First Period:
BUF: 4:17 - Peyton Krebs (1) (Alex Tuch, Tage Thompson); 7:10 - Josh Doan (1) (Ryan McLeod, Bowen Byram); 9:15 - Zach Benson (1) (Josh Doan); 14:24 - Bowen Byram (3) (Owen Power, Jack Quinn)
BOS: NONE
Second Period:
BUF: NONE
BOS: NONE
Third Period:
BUF: 5:08 - Beck Malenstyn (1) (Jordan Greenway, Tyson Kozak); 6:32 - Alex Tuch (3) (Tage Thompson, Peyton Krebs)
BOS: 19:20 - Sean Kuraly (1) SHG (Andrew Peeke, Hampus Lindholm)
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Bluestar Home Services Three Stars of the Game:
1.) Alex Lyon - BUF
2.) Bowen Byram - BUF
3.) Alex Tuch - BUF
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What's Next:
Game Five is on Tuesday night, back in Buffalo. Now up 3-1 in the seven-game series, it will be the Sabres' first opportunity to clinch. Puck drop at KeyBank Center is set for 7:30 p.m. ET with Dan Dunleavy and Rob Ray on the call.
Buffalo wins Game Four decisively 6-1, can clinch series on Tuesday
Buffalo wins Game Four decisively 6-1, can clinch series on Tuesday
