FINAL SCORE: Sabres 4, Bruins 2
FROM HAGGERTY
It was fun watching Charlie McAvoy and Jack Eichel go head-to-head a little bit in the first period as fellow Boston University alumnae. Eichel used a toe drag move to go right around McAvoy on a drive to the net that ended with a wraparound reverse chance that Tuukka Rask was able to stop. It was not as much fun for Bruins fans watching the Chelmsford native wheel around former BU teammate Matt Grzelcyk for the go-ahead goal in the third period. Then it was Eichel that set up Jeff Skinner in front for the game-winner later in the third period. Then it was Eichel again with the empty netter to ice things in the third period. Ouch.
Just a total of 20 blocked shots for the two teams through three periods of hockey between Buffalo and Boston. This feels like a nice Sunday evening game on the ice rather than a blood and guts Atlantic Division matchup, which is weird considering that the Sabres are a heck of a lot better this season. A big two points, but neither team really seemed to get wound up at any point during the game. Maybe that will chance as the season goes out and they meet once or twice more, but in this first one it seemed to be a gentleman’s hockey game out there.
Torey Krug took a puck to the face midway through the third period that forced him back to the Bruins dressing room for repairs. But Krug was back on the ice to score a game-tying goal later in the third period after quickly shaking it off and getting back to the Bruins bench in a tightly-played divisional matchup. For once the Bruins avoided any serious injury on a freak play like the one that knocked Kevan Miller out of the lineup for weeks and counting after taking the puck to the throat in Toronto.
THREE STARS
1. Linus Ullmark, G, Buffalo (35 saves)
2. Jack Eichel, C, Buffalo (2 goals, 2 assists)
3. Jeff Skinner, LW, Buffalo (2 goals)
Boston Bruins
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BRUINS RECORD: 17-11-4 (38 points), 5th in Atlantic Division
KRUG TIES IT 2-2 IN THE THIRD
https://twitter.com/mkmolnar/status/1074461463425757185
KAMPFER TIES IT AT 1
CHELMSFORD’S FINEST
UP NEXT
MONDAY: at Montreal, 7:30 p.m. (NESN)
THURSDAY: vs. Anaheim, 7 p.m. (NESN)
SATURDAY: vs. Nashville, 1 p.m. (NESN)
SUNDAY: at Carolina, 5 p.m. (NESN)
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