Sabres’ 3rd period comeback never before done in Stanley Cup Playoffs

The Buffalo Sabres ended a 15-year playoff drought by rallying with four straight goals in the third period to take down the Boston Bruins 4-3 in Game 1 at KeyBank Center. It was the Sabres’ first playoff win since April 22, 2011, and their first postseason appearance since April 26, 2011.

Buffalo became the first team in NHL postseason history to win in regulation after trailing by two or more goals with eight minutes or less remaining. The Sabres scored four unanswered goals in a 6:46 span, including three goals in just 4:34, to complete the comeback. It was also only the second time in franchise history that Buffalo overcame a multi-goal deficit in the third period of a playoff game, with the previous instance occurring in 1993 against Boston.

Tage Thompson led the offensive effort with two goals and one assist, becoming just the second Sabres player to collect three points in a playoff debut, joining Pierre Turgeon. His first goal at 12:02 of the third period, Buffalo’s first playoff goal since 2011, made it a 2-1 game. He scored again 3:42 later, tying the game at 15:44.

Just 52 seconds after the equalizer, Mattias Samuelsson gave Buffalo a 3-2 lead with a wrist shot from the left circle. Alex Tuch clinched the win with an empty-net goal at 18:48, finishing with a goal and an assist. The Sabres outshot the Bruins 38-20 and finished with 91 hits in the game.

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 17 saves to earn his first career playoff win, while Boston’s Jeremy Swayman stopped 34 shots. For the Bruins, David Pastrnak had a goal and two assists to reach 90 career playoff points, while Morgan Geekie and Elias Lindholm each contributed a goal.

Boston, which entered the game 33-2-4 when leading after two periods in the regular season, led 2-0 after Lindholm’s goal at 1:08 of the third. Pastrnak scored a late power-play goal with under 10 seconds remaining, but Buffalo held on.

The Sabres, Atlantic Division champions, now lead the series 1-0, with Game 2 scheduled for Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. EST.

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