The Buffalo Sabres had to wait 14 seasons to get back to the playoffs and it looked like they were going to have to wait a few more days to get their first playoff win. However, that all changed late in the third period as Tage Thompson would score two in a row to tie it up at two.
They weren't done there as Mattias Samuelsson would score the game-winning goal and Alex Tuch added an empty-net goal to give the Sabres the 4-3 win in Game 1 and the early series lead over the Boston Bruins. It was a remarkable performance in a game that didn't look to be going the Sabres' way, and these are some of the top takeaways from the game on Sunday night.
Buffalo Sabres desperately need answers for their power play
The Buffalo Sabres' power play was awful down the stretch in the regular season, and that continued on Sunday night as they were unable to score any goals on their four power play opportunities. When looking back to the regular season, the Sabres have now gone 26 straight power play opportunities without a goal.
This is something that the Sabres have to fix, and fix quickly, because it should be an area where they have the advantage. The Bruins had the second-most penalty minutes, so they were giving up plenty of power play opportunities and weren't really that good at killing them off, as they had the ninth-worst penalty kill percentage at 76.9%.
As this series goes along, the Sabres are going to get plenty of power play chances, and they have to find a way to generate more chances and, more importantly, goals.
Buffalo Sabres struggle to get many high-danger chances against the Bruins
There is no question that Jeremy Swayman was locked in for most of the night and delivered an incredible performance for the Boston Bruins. When looking at the game as a whole, the Sabres looked like the better team for the majority of the game, but Jeremy Swayman was the best player on the ice.
One of the reasons that Swayman was as successful as he was in this game was that the Sabres didn't get enough opportunities in front of the crease and down low. They dominated the shots on goal in this game with 38, compared to 20 by the Bruins, but too many of those shots were long shots that gave Swayman time to see them and stop them.
Late in the third period, the Sabres were able to change that, and that was why they were able to get back in this game. They did a great job with the forecheck, forced the Bruins to make mistakes with the puck, and Tage Thompson was there to do the rest.
Tage Thompson delivers two huge goals in his first career playoff game
On Sunday night, it was the first playoff game for several players on the Buffalo Sabres, and that included two cornerstones of the franchise, Rasmus Dahlin and Tage Thompson. Both of these players have been in Buffalo for a majority of the drought and finally get a chance to see what playoff hockey is like in the NHL.
Tage Thompson, in particular, made the most of it as he would score two goals in the third period that completely swung the momentum in this game in Buffalo's favor. Both goals were similar in that it was the forecheck that made it happen, but it's Thompson's ability with the puck up close and in tight areas that made the goals happen.
In the first goal, Thompson controlled the puck behind the net and used his length to sneak it around the post and past Swayman. Then on the second goal, it bounced off a Bruins' skate, and Thompson was there to control it and rip it past the Bruins' goalie.
TAGE. pic.twitter.com/ZfKLdISlkf
— y - Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) April 20, 2026
Thompson had an incredible season with 40 goals and if he continues to score like this, the Sabres have to like their chances of getting past the Boston Bruins.
Buffalo Sabres showed off the resiliency in the third period that has been evident all season
The Buffalo Sabres have shown time and again this season that they refuse to give up, and that was on display once again in Game 1 against the Boston Bruins.
Whether it was earlier in the season when they were last in the Atlantic Division or in games like against the Tampa Bay Lightning when they were down two goals in the third, the Sabres just keep working, and the plays start happening.
This is something that is going to benefit from in these playoffs, as every period and every game is not going to go their way. They are going to need to keep trying to find ways to win, but if they do that, then they have a chance to go far in these Stanley Cup Playoffs.
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