Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR 550) - The Buffalo Sabres trailed early against the Boston Bruins on Tuesday night at KeyBank Center, and were unable to rally in a 5-2 loss on home ice.
The Bruins scored a pair of goals early in the first period to help open up a 2-0 lead over Buffalo.
Danton Heinen was at the top of the goal crease and was able to pounce on a rebound chance for his first goal of the season. The goal came after Charlie McAvoy took the initial shot that was turned away by Sabres rookie goalie Devon Levi.
Just over a minute later, David Pastrnak unleashed a one-time shot after a cross-ice pass that doubled Boston's lead to 2-0. Pavel Zacha made the pass that set up the goal just over four minutes into the game.
Tage Thompson was injured on the next shift for the Sabres. The forward immediately went to the locker room after the collision with McAvoy in the Boston zone.
Thompson returned and skated for several shifts in the second period before being hit by a shot on the wrist and left again. This time, he would not return to the game.
Boston was able to increase the lead to three goals late in the period while the two teams were skating 4-on-4. Linus Ullmark came out of his crease to knock away a chance for Buffalo, and it helped start an odd-man rush the other way. Brandon Carlo's first goal of the season made the score 3-0 Bruins.
The Bruins added to their lead with two more goals in the second period to balloon their lead to 5-0 over Buffalo.
Oskar Steen scored his first goal of the year early in the period for a four-goal Boston advantage. Later in the frame the first special teams goal of the night made it 5-0 in favor of the visitors. Hampus Lindholm was credited with the goal.
Buffalo's first goal of the game came with just under five minutes remaining in the middle period. Victor Olofsson was able to score off of a pass off the boards by Owen Power. The young defenseman and Dylan Cozens were credited with assists on the goal that cut the deficit to 5-1.
Olofsson added his second goal of the game late in the third period, which was also his second goal of the season. It came with just under five minutes remaining in regulation.
Prior to the game, the Sabres honored captain Kyle Okposo for playing in his 1,000th career NHL game with a pregame ceremony.
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SCORING SUMMARY:
First Period:
BUF: NONE
BOS: 3:01 - Danton Heinen (1) (Charlie McAvoy, Matthew Poitras); 4:09 - David Pastrnak (11) (Pavel Zacha, Charlie McAvoy); 15:14 - Brandon Carlo (1) (David Pastrnak, Pavel Zacha)
Second Period:
BUF: 15:07 - Victor Olofsson (1) (Owen Power, Dylan Cozens)
BOS: 4:07 - Oskar Steen (1) (Jakub Lauko); 12:23 - Hampus Lindholm (1) PPG (David Pastrnak, Brad Marchand)
Third Period:
BUF: 15:02 - Victor Olofsson (2) (JJ Peterka, Casey Mittelstadt)
BOS: NONE
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Losi and Gangi Three Stars of the Game:
1.) David Pastrnak - BOS
2.) Charlie McAvoy - BOS
3.) Linus Ullmark - BOS
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What's next:
The Sabres will begin a three-game road trip on Friday night when they meet the Winnipeg Jets at Canada Life Centre. The teams are scheduled to drop the puck at 8 p.m. EST on the flagship home on the Sabres Radio Network - WGR Sports Radio 550 - with pregame coverage on WGR with Brian Koziol starting at 7 p.m. EST.