Sabres Stun Bruins In Overtime Thriller, Playoff Hopes Alive
Sabres Stun Bruins In Overtime Thriller, Playoff Hopes Alive...
The Buffalo Sabres kept their playoff dreams alive with a dramatic 4-3 overtime victory over the Boston Bruins on Thursday night. Tage Thompson scored the game-winner just 1:12 into the extra period, sending KeyBank Center into a frenzy as Buffalo snapped Boston's six-game winning streak.
The matchup is trending nationally as it carries major implications for both teams. The Bruins (49-24-9) had already clinched a playoff spot but lost ground in the race for the Atlantic Division title. The Sabres (42-35-5), meanwhile, kept pace in the wild card chase, now just two points behind Washington with three games remaining.
Rookie goaltender Devon Levi made 38 saves for Buffalo in his seventh NHL start, including several clutch stops in the third period. "He gave us a chance when we were on our heels," Sabres coach Don Granato told reporters postgame. David Pastrnak scored twice for Boston but couldn't prevent their first loss since April 9.
The game turned physical early, featuring five fighting majors and 42 penalty minutes. Bruins captain Patrice Bergeron left briefly in the second period after taking a high hit from Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin, though he returned to finish the game.
With the victory, Buffalo improved to 6-2-2 in their last 10 games, their best late-season push in over a decade. The teams meet again Saturday in Boston for what could be another high-stakes showdown if playoff positioning remains tight.
Hockey analysts note the game's significance extends beyond the standings. "This showed the Sabres can compete with elite teams when it matters most," said ESPN's Emily Kaplan during the postgame show. The young Buffalo core, led by Thompson (46 goals) and Dylan Cozens (31 goals), has sparked rare April excitement in Western New York.
Social media erupted with reactions, particularly to Levi's performance and Thompson's overtime heroics. The #Sabres hashtag trended nationally on Twitter for over four hours after the final horn. Ticket resale prices for Saturday's rematch at TD Garden reportedly doubled within 90 minutes of Thursday's result.
The NHL's Department of Player Safety announced Friday morning it would review Dahlin's hit on Bergeron, though no hearing has been scheduled. Both teams held optional morning skates ahead of the quick turnaround, with Boston expected to start Linus Ullmark in net against his former team.
With three games remaining for each club, the Eastern Conference wild card race now features four teams separated by just three points. The Sabres' remaining schedule includes games against Carolina and Columbus before closing against Ottawa on April 29.
