Sabres fall to Bruins in overtime

Buffalo, NY (WGR Sports Radio 550) - The Bruins earned an important two points in a tight Eastern Conference playoff race with a 4-3 overtime win over the Sabres Wednesday night at KeyBank Center. David Pastrnak scored and had two assists, including setting up the game winner to lead Boston in the victory.

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The Sabres needed to go on the defensive early as Rasmus Dahlin got called for cross checking just 0:21 seconds into the game. But it would be Buffalo with the best scoring opportunity as Alex Tuch got sent in alone but couldn't notch the first goal of the game as he rang a wrist shot off the post.

Midway through the first Boston got on the board as David Pastrnak snapped home a nice feed from behind the net by Fraser Minten.

Later in the first, Morgan Geekie was sent to the box for tripping and the Sabres would take advantage. Tage Thompson made a nice move along the blue line and set up Jason Zucker for a one-timer in the slot for the goal to even the game at 1-1 on the power play.

The two teams would skate on an extended 4 on 4 as Joonas Korpisalo and Beck Malenstyn were both called for penalties after a scrum on a covered puck in the Boston crease. Then Charlie McAvoy was called for holding and Josh Norris for interference on the same play. Just after the penalties expired, the Bruins took the 2-1 lead as David Pastrnak was sent in alone and was poke-checked by Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, but Viktor Arvidsson followed up putting home the loose puck midway through the second period.

Just after killing off an early Logan Stanley tripping penalty in the third period, Zach Benson scored to tie the game 2-2 moments later as he got in alone behind the Boston defense. Right after the goal, Mason Lohrei got called for cross checking Benson into the net and Buffalo headed to the power play.

Tage Thompson and Jason Zucker teamed up once again with the man advantage for Zucker's second goal of the night, to give Buffalo the 3-2 lead just 0:33 seconds later.

Boston tied it 3-3 as Jonathan Aspirot's point shot went wide but took a wild bounce off the back wall and landed in the Buffalo crease, where Casey Mittelstadt put home the game tying goal with just 6:00 minutes remaining.

The game headed to overtime and after winning the opening faceoff, Boston would never relinquish possession. It was Pavel Zacha scoring the game winning goal just 0:38 into the extra frame. The Sabres have now lost back to back games in overtime.

Buffalo defenseman Conor Timmins was activated from injured reserve before the game and was paired with Logan Stanley. Timmins skated 22 shifts for 15:30 minutes of ice time and had two shots on goal in his return to the lineup.

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GAME RECAP

Scoring Summary:

First Period:

BUF: 15:18 - Jason Zucker (21)(PPG) (Tage Thompson, Jack Quinn)

BOS: 11:07 - David Pastrnak (29) (Fraser Minten, Marat Khusnutdinov)

Second Period:

BUF: NONE

BOS: 9:20 - Viktor Arvidsson (20) (David Pastrnak, Nikita Zadorov)

Third Period:

BUF: 5:21 - Zach Benson (10) (Unassisted), 5:54 - Jason Zucker (22)(PPG) (Tage Thompson)

BOS: 14:00 - Casey Mittelstadt (14) (Jonathan Aspirot, Pavel Zacha)

Overtime:

BUF: NONE

BOS: 0:38 - Pavel Zacha (24) (David Pastrnak, Charlie McAvoy)

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STATS OF THE GAME:

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Blue Star Home Services Three Stars of the Game:

1.) David Pastrnak (BOS)

2.) Jason Zucker (BUF)

3.) Pavel Zacha (BOS)

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What's next: The Sabres continue their four game homestand as the Detroit Red Wings visit KeyBank Center Friday night for a 7:00 p.m. ET faceoff. Catch all of the action on WGR Sports Radio 550 starting with the pregame at 6:00 p.m. ET with Mike Schopp and the Bulldog.