A Dramatic Game 1 Collapse for the Boston Bruins
Against the Atlantic Division champion Buffalo Sabres, the Boston Bruins appeared to have Game 1 — and the Buffalo crowd — exactly where they wanted them. Holding a 2-0 lead with just 10 minutes to play, Jeremy Swayman and the Bruins’ defense had held the Sabres scoreless for 50 minutes, a feat no team had accomplished against Lindy Ruff’s squad since November.
But the silence at KeyBank Center didn’t last. In a stunning late-game collapse, the Bruins watched their two-goal cushion evaporate as Buffalo erupted for three goals in a span of just 4:34. Alex Tuch’s empty-netter eventually iced a 4-3 victory for the Sabres, marking the franchise’s first postseason win in 14 seasons and turning a potential Boston statement win into a nightmare series opener.
The Bruins opened the scoring, striking in the first period behind Morgan Geekie, who carried his 39-goal regular season momentum into the playoffs. Swayman remained dialed in with 27 saves through two periods, keeping the Buffalo attack stagnant well into the final frame. When Elias Lindholm tucked home an insurance goal early in the third, a statement 1-0 series lead felt within reach.
However, the Sabres’ offense proved too explosive to be contained for the full 60 minutes. Tage Thompson sparked the rally, cutting the deficit in half with 7:58 remaining before ripping home the equalizer minutes later. The comeback was completed when Mattias Samuelsson found himself alone in the slot to give Buffalo its first lead of the night. While David Pastrnak bridged the gap to 4-3 late, the Bruins ran out of time.
For 50 minutes, Boston was the better team, operating with the precision of a road warrior. But in a blur of blue and gold, that defensive wall in front of Swayman — who finished the night with 34 saves — disintegrated. The Bruins must now regroup for Game 2 in Buffalo, where they will look to even the series or risk returning to Boston in a 2-0 hole.
Game Highlights and Live Updates
Final: Sabres 4, Bruins 3
- 10:27 p.m. GOAL: It’s a Game 1 comeback win for the Sabres and a brutal loss for the Bruins.
- 10:24 p.m. GOAL: The Bruins have cut it to one with six seconds left. It’s Pastrnak, who opens his playoff account on a backhand shot to make the game 4-3.
- 10:23 p.m.: The Sabres take a penalty with 15 seconds remaining, and the Bruins will have a power play. But, this game is pretty much over.
- 10:21 p.m. GOAL: With Swayman on the bench, it’s the Syracuse native Alex Tuch who ices the game for the Sabres.
- 10:20 p.m.: With under two minutes left, the Bruins now need a goal. Swayman heads to the bench and the extra attacker is out for Boston.
- 10:17 p.m. GOAL: The Sabres have their first lead of the series, storming all the way back from a 2-0 deficit to take the lead.
- 10:16 p.m.: There’s another scrum after Pekka Luukkonen makes a save, and there are penalties after the play.
- 10:13 p.m. GOAL: This game is tied, and it’s the same goalscorer: Thompson.
- 10:09 p.m.: With 5:39 left in the third, the Bruins are leading 2-1.
- 10:05 p.m. GOAL: The Sabres are on the board, courtesy of their top scorer Thompson.
- 9:59 p.m.: Halfway through the third, and the Buffalo offense is still looking to light the lamp.
- 9:51 p.m.: Six minutes into the third period, and Boston is in the drivers seat.
- 9:48 p.m.: With the power play winding down, Bowen Byram gets a shot from the point, but Swayman is in position to swallow the puck in his chest.
- 9:46 p.m.: Buffalo will have a chance to cut the lead in half on the power play.
- 9:42 p.m. GOAL: There’s the goal that gives Boston the cushion it needs.
- 9:41 p.m.: The third period is underway in Game 1.
- End of the second period: Bruins 1, Sabres 0
- 9:21 p.m.: To end the second period, Swayman takes away another scoring chance from Owen Power, and the teams head to the locker room with the game 1-0.
- 9:18 p.m.: Now, Swayman makes a save on Thompson, keeping the Sabres scoreless.
- 9:12 p.m.: It’s a great kill by Boston, who allows zero Buffalo shots on the power play.
- 9:09 p.m.: Buffalo is headed to the power play for the third time.
- 9:03 p.m.: Pastrnak has his second breakaway of the period, and this one is also saved by Pekka Luukkonen.
- 8:58 p.m.: As the period continues, Buffalo has been on the attack.
- 8:52 p.m.: The Sabres have had their fair share of chances this period.
- 8:49 p.m.: It’s a prime opportunity for Pastrnak, who gets the puck behind defenders and has a breakaway.
- 8:48 p.m.: Buffalo’s power play is over, making both teams 0-for-2 tonight.
- 8:44 p.m.: Now, Pavel Zacha takes a holding penalty, ending the Bruins power play.
- 8:42 p.m.: The second period is underway in Boston.
- End of the first period: Bruins 1, Sabres 0
- 8:25 p.m.: Geekie had a prime opportunity to give Boston a 2-0 lead, but his eyes were down and he didn’t see an empty net.
- 8:23 p.m.: The Bruins are heading back to the penalty, with Jason Zucker now taking a penalty for holding.
- 8:19 p.m.: It’s a big kill for the Bruins, and now both teams are 0-for-1 on the power play.
- 8:18 p.m.: Swayman picks up right where he left off in the playoffs, now making a save on Ryan McLeod.
- 8:16 p.m.: There’s some chaos in front of the Boston net.
- 8:13 p.m.: Now, the Sabres will head to the power play for the first time.
- 8:08 p.m.: Boston’s had a fair share of shots during the power play, but Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has made the saves.
- 8:04 p.m.: Now, Geekie creates more chaos in the offensive zone and drives the first penalty of the series.
- 8:02 p.m. GOAL: The Boston Bruins have the first goal of the series, and it’s their leading scorer from the regular season.
- 7:58 p.m.: Nearly halfway through the first, Buffalo has been the better team, using their speed to create chances and being physical from the jump.
- 7:53 p.m.: Thompson has his first scoring chance of the series, getting a shot from the right circle, but Swayman staves it away.
- 7:50 p.m.: Boston’s first established zone time in the offensive end comes five minutes in, but it results in only one shot.
- 7:47 p.m.: Four minutes in, this game has lived up to the bargain.
- 7:44 p.m.: Swayman is getting “swayed” by the Buffalo crowd in the early minutes, with chants from the stands raining down.
- 7:42 p.m.: We are underway in Buffalo.
- 7:37 p.m.: The teams are on the ice in front of an electric Buffalo crowd.
- 7:32 p.m.: It’s time for puck drop.
- 7:25 p.m.: To advance, Boston needs to win a game in Buffalo. Why not make it tonight?
- 7:15 p.m.: Puck drop is getting closer, and the Bruins aren’t the only Boston team to play a playoff game today.
- 7:04 p.m.: If Boston is going to have a chance in the series, expect Jeremy Swayman to be a reason why.
- 6:55 p.m.: Buffalo isn’t the only team to have exceeded expectations in this matchup.
- 6:44 p.m.: It’s safe to say that Boston is walking into one of the most hostile environments its faced in recent memory.
- 6:35 p.m.: Boston is on-site in Buffalo, with puck drop an hour away.
- 6:34 p.m.: The Bruins are staring across the ice at a playoff opponent that feels entirely unfamiliar yet dangerously rejuvenated.
- 6:30 p.m.: It’s time for the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
How to Watch the Game
TV channel:
NESN
Live stream:
NESN 360, fubo
Game start time:
7:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, April 19
Game schedule:
– April 19: Game 1: Sabres 4, Bruins 3
– April 21: Game 2: Bruins vs. Sabres
– April 23: Game 3: Sabres vs. Bruins
– April 26: Game 4: Sabres vs. Bruins
– April 28: Game 5: Bruins vs. Sabres
– May 1: Game 6: Sabres vs. Bruins
– May 3: Game 7*: Bruins vs. Sabres
If necessary
