Final: Sabres 7, Bruins 4 at Prospects Challenge

BUFFALO, N.Y. – The Sabres scored three times in the third period en route to a 7-4 victory over the Bruins Saturday night at Prospects Challenge at HarborCenter. The Bruins will practice Sunday and conclude the tournament on Monday against the New Jersey Devils.

Here are a couple of observations from the third period

• Defenseman Emil Johansson exited the game and did not return in the third period after he was leveled by the Sabres’ Hudson Fasching, who was given a minor penalty for charging. There was no update on Johansson after the game.


•  It’s evident that forwards Anders Bjork and Jakob Forsbacka-Karlsson are building chemistry. That could be an interesting pairing with their respective speed and play-making ability. The two connected on the power play with Bjork scoring the Bruins' fourth goal late in the period. Bjork said the chemistry continued to build during the game. “Yeah, definitely. He’s a real smart player. He plays hard and competes. He finds guys all over the ice, so he’s fun to play with. All the guys on our team are getting used to playing with each other and getting used to each other’s styles and building chemistry. We got better as the game went on even though the outcome wasn’t what we wanted. There are definite benefits we can take from that game.”

• Forward Ryan Fitzgerald played his best period of the tournament. He was engaged, scored a power-play goal, and overall had more jump.


• Forward Anders Bjork was on the receiving end of a few hits, but he continued to move his feet and was reliable at both ends of the ice, especially on the backcheck.


• Forward Jesse Gabrielle, who scored the game-winning goal on Friday, has a knack for finding the puck, or the puck has a knack of finding him.


• Forward Zach Senyshyn was using his speed and drew a penalty.


• Defenseman Emil Johansson was angling opposing forwards well and keeping them to the outside.

• Defenseman Charlie McAvoy was the vocal leader on the ice. He could be heard dictating plays. He was pushing the play and moving the puck well.


• Forward Sean Kuraly was winning puck battles.


• Forward Joona Koppanen was a step behind early in the period but made a few adjustments.


• Undrafted forward, and Massachusetts native, Alex Gacek is shifty. Listed at 5-foot-9, 170-pounds, the winger wasn’t shying away from the physical aspect.


• The line of Jake DeBrusk, Jakob Forsbacka-Karlsson and Anders Bjork controlled the play and had plenty of puck possession and creating chances. Bjork was protecting the puck well along the wall.


• Defenseman Connor Clifton got turned around a couple of times.


• Forward Justin Hickman scored Boston’s lone goal in the period. He redirected the puck off his chest while crashing the net for the tally.