Bruins Beat Sabres For Second Straight Win

For the first time in a month, the Boston Bruins have won back-to-back games. After beating the Pittsburgh Penguins, 2-1, Tuesday night, the Bruins won their first meeting of the season with Buffalo Sabres, 4-1, Thursday night in Western New York. The last time they won back-to-back games was Feb. 11 and 13 against the New York Rangers.

Here are some takeaways, notes, and stars of the game for the Black and Gold, who pulled within one point of the Penguins for third place in the East Division.

Takeaways

• On Wednesday, the Sabres fired head coach Ralph Krueger and named Dan Granato interim coach. The Sabres played with a little extra jump in their step in the first period, but as the game went on, the Bruins took over the game.

• Three nights after giving up two shaky goals in a 4-1 loss to the Penguins Monday night, Jaroslav Halak stopped 23 of the 24 shots he faced. The only goal he gave up was a shorthanded tally by Buffalo’s Kyle Okposo, whose wrist shot deflected off of Matt Grzelcyk’s stick and went under the crossbar early in the second period for the Sabres first shorthanded goal of 2021.
• Greg McKegg centered the fourth line as Sean Kuraly was out of the lineup because of the league’s COVID-19 protocols and made he an instant impact. He redirected a Grzelcyk wrist shot from the point just 18 seconds into his shift in the first period for an early 1-0 Boston lead.
• Jake DeBrusk and Craig Smith both scored in the second period, which is hopefully a sign that the two can start producing. Smith had one of his better games and finished with three shots on the net. He also hit the post on a slap shot in the second period from the right circle before his goal.
• Oskar Steen was back in the lineup for a second consecutive game, while rookie defensemen Jack Ahcan made his NHL debut, playing on the third pairing with Steven Kampfer. In 17:55 of ice-time, Ahcan had three shots on the net.