BSJ Game Report: Bruins 3, Sabres 2 - DeBrusk’s 2 goals lift Boston past Buffalo

Everything you need to know from the Bruins’ 3-2 win over the Sabres in quickie form, with BSJ insight and analysis:

Box Score

HEADLINES

Bruins make it three straight wins:  Boston did just enough to extend its winning streak to three games on Sunday night, sweeping its home-and-home series against the Sabres by way of a 3-2 final at TD Garden. 

The Bruins, who have captured points in seven straight games, received a major lift from Jake DeBrusk, who scored twice in a span of 18 seconds in the third period to put the B’s ahead for good. While Buffalo cut its deficit to one off a goal from Curtis Lazar at 5:08 in the third, Tuukka Rask (24 saves) stood tall down the stretch, while Boston killed off all three of Buffalo’s stints on the power play. 

The Bruins, who improve to 24-7-9 on the year, also received a scoring boost from David Pastrnak, who tallied his 29th goal of the season. 

Jake DeBrusk responds after benching: It’s been another up-and-down season for DeBrusk, who has been plagued by scoring droughts throughout his third full campaign up with the B’s. Bruce Cassidy appeared to give the winger a bit of a reality check in the early going of Sunday’s matchup, benching him after logging just 2:22 of ice time in the first period.

The 23-year-old winger appeared to get the message,



giving Boston a two-goal lead in the third period with a pair of power-play tallies just 18 seconds apart. DeBrusk did finish the contest with 12:44 of ice time despite his lack of minutes in the first — including 2:29 on the power play. Perhaps this will be the spark DeBrusk needs to get on a roll this season. 

Bruins' blue line loses another skater: Already without Charlie McAvoy and Torey Krug for the second game in a row, Boston’s blue line took another big hit on Sunday night. After logging 5:52 of ice time in the first period, Connor Clifton exited the game with an upper-body injury and did not return. 

Boston’s battered D corps managed to stay afloat against Buffalo, with Steven Kampfer recording a pair of assists and Brandon Carlo logging 25:35 of ice time in his new spot on Boston’s top pairing with Zdeno Chara (22:55 TOI). 

Still, even with Sunday’s victory, the injuries are starting to pile up for the B’s on the backend, especially with McAvoy and Krug’s status still pretty iffy for Tuesday’s matchup against New Jersey. If Clifton isn’t cleared, the B’s will have to take a look down in Providence for some reinforcements once again. 

THREE UP

David Pastrnak: After a brutal goal-less streak of five (!) whole games, Pastrnak buried his 29th tally of the season at 12:39 in the first — finishing off a 2-on-1 rush generated by Patrice Bergeron in Boston’s own zone. Even if he isn’t scoring goals at the blistering pace he was earlier this year, Pastrnak is still in the midst of a seven-game point streak, recording 12 points (three goals, nine assists) during this stretch. 

Jake DeBrusk: What a difference a benching can make, eh? DeBrusk picked a good time to break out of his recent cold spell — posting his first two-goal game since April 2, 2019 against Columbus.

https://twitter.com/ConorRyan_93/status/1211468903064489984

Steven Kampfer: A stick tap for the veteran blueliner, who was pressed into service once again due to McAvoy and Krug’s injuries. Along with his two helpers on the power play, Kampfer also logged 19:26 of ice time, taking the lion’s share of Clifton’s lost minutes after he exited the game. 

TWO DOWN

Brett Ritchie: He did manage to throw his weight around a bit when he hopped over the boards, but Ritchie still left a lot to be desired in his return to the lineup. Along with an ugly giveaway in the third period, Ritchie also put his club in a bad spot later in the frame — whistled for a trip with Boston protecting a one-goal lead in the closing minutes of the contest.

Power Play: Yes, DeBrusk did light the lamp twice on the man advantage. But Boston still labored for most of the night when it came to generating quality looks on the power play, going 2-for-6 against Buffalo. Far too many chunks of 5v4 play featured the B’s struggling to gain extended zone time down the Sabres' side of the ice. 

PLAY OF THE GAME:

https://twitter.com/mkmolnar/status/1211444586066911234

PARTING THOUGHTS

https://twitter.com/ConorRyan_93/status/1211488349392973824

LOOKING AHEAD

Next up, the Bruins will head down to Newark for a matinee on New Year's Eve against the Devils. Puck drop for Tuesday's matchup is set for 1 p.m.