How Buffalo fared against the Bruins in 2023/2024
For the longest time, the Boston Bruins have not only been one of the best teams in the NHL but also the class of the Atlantic Division. Even with the talent they lost in the offseason, the Bruins still found a way to finish second in the Atlantic.
For the Buffalo Sabres, they have had a devil of a time with the Bruins recently. How did the blue and gold fare against the boys in Beantown this year? The first of three games took place in Buffalo back in November. It was a special night as former Sabres captain Kyle Okposo was playing in his 1,000th career NHL game.
It was a brutal loss for the Sabres as they lost 5-2. After trailing 3-0 heading into the second period, Buffalo was down 5-0 before Victor Olofsson scored to break a 5-0 Bruins lead. A few weeks later, the two teams faced off in Boston.
It was a homecoming for Sabres goaltender Devon Levi, as he made his return to the lineup and was playing in the town where he played college hockey. After a scoreless first period, JJ Peterka broke the ice as he gave Buffalo a 1-0 lead. Towards the end of the period, Tage Thompson made it 2-0 before Brad Marchand cut the Sabres lead in half just over a minute later.
Olofsson scored to make it 3-1, and the Sabres ended the Bruins four game winning streak with the victory. 20 days later, they would play the rubber match of their season series in KeyBank Center after the Christmas break. With Levi in the net once again, Buffalo lost 4-1 on home ice. It was 4-0 Bruins heading into the third period before Erik Johnson ruined Jeremy Swayman's shutout.
It was another season series where Boston got the better of Buffalo. If the Sabres are serious about making the postseason, they will have to start winning more games against the best teams near the top of the Atlantic.