Final: Bruins 5, Sabres 2 - B's take care of business

The Bruins will open up a brief two-game set at home, starting with matchup against the Sabres on Thursday night.. Puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m. Follow along for updates from Thursday's game. 

WHO: Bruins (28-14-6) vs. Sabres (13-30-7)

WHEN: 7:00 p.m.

WHERE: TD Garden

TV: NESN+

RADIO: 98.5-FM The Sports Hub

LIVE BOX SCORE: NHL.com

LIVE COVERAGE: 



Marchand with the empty-netter.

https://twitter.com/ConorRyan_93/status/1387943111100358656

Oh my goodness.

We go to 4v4 hockey with 6:30 left.

https://twitter.com/ConorRyan_93/status/1387938182927376385

All tied up.

https://twitter.com/ConorRyan_93/status/1387935928589721603

Third period is a go.

https://twitter.com/ConorRyan_93/status/1387933508459540488

End Second: Bruins still lead, 2-1.

https://twitter.com/ConorRyan_93/status/1387929243108184072

No dice on the power play.

Bruins to the power play.

https://twitter.com/ConorRyan_93/status/1387928456307036161

Just some absurd passing from Marchand.

Rask has been sharp.

B's kill it off.

Bruins to the PK.

Second period is a go.

https://twitter.com/ConorRyan_93/status/1387917746969759744

https://twitter.com/ConorRyan_93/status/1387916977637892100

https://twitter.com/ConorRyan_93/status/1387916494579900422

Bruins to the power play.

https://twitter.com/ConorRyan_93/status/1387914826320650247

https://twitter.com/ConorRyan_93/status/1387913510550740995

Another sloppy turnover by Boston.

https://twitter.com/ConorRyan_93/status/1387912888409546756

Bad turnover from Hall there — but Rask makes the glove stop.

https://twitter.com/ConorRyan_93/status/1387912224224727040

https://twitter.com/ConorRyan_93/status/1387907696028962818

https://twitter.com/ConorRyan_93/status/1387907079348838401

Puck is dropped and we're underway.

https://twitter.com/ConorRyan_93/status/1387904567153725447

https://twitter.com/ConorRyan_93/status/1387902630031208459

https://twitter.com/ConorRyan_93/status/1387898710256988162

https://twitter.com/ConorRyan_93/status/1387896878273114119

LINEUPS

BOSTON

Brad Marchand — Patrice Bergeron — David Pastrnak
Taylor Hall — David Krejci — Craig Smith/Jake DeBrusk
Trent Frederic — Sean Kuraly — Charlie Coyle
Nick Ritchie — Curtis Lazar — Chris Wagner

Matt Grzelcyk — Charlie McAvoy
Mike Reilly — Kevan Miller
Jeremy Lauzon — Connor Clifton

Tuukka Rask
Jaroslav Halak

Scratched: Jeremy Swayman, Jakub Zboril, Jarred Tinordi, Karson Kuhlman, Anton Blidh
Injured: Brandon Carlo (upper body), Ondrej Kase (upper body)

BUFFALO

Jeff Skinner -- Sam Reinhart -- Victor Olofsson
Rasmus Asplund -- Casey Mittelstadt -- Arttu Ruotsalainen
Anders Bjork -- Dylan Cozens -- Drake Caggiula
Tobias Rieder -- Riley Sheahan -- Tage Thompson

Mattias Samuelsson -- Rasmus Ristolainen
Rasmus Dahlin -- Henri Jokiharju
Jacob Bryson -- William Borgen

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
Dustin Tokarski

Scratched: Colin Miller, Cody Eakin, Matt Irwin
Injured: Linus Ullmark (lower body), Carter Hutton (lower body)

PREGAME NOTES

Craig Smith might not be available for Thursday's contest due to a COVID testing issue. If the winger isn't cleared in time to play, Jake DeBrusk will skate on the second line with David Krejci and Taylor Hall. If Smith does play, DeBrusk will sit and the lineup will remain the same from Tuesday's win over the Penguins.

Brandon Carlo is expected to miss his 16th straight game on Thursday, but the defenseman took a major step forward — taking part in the club's morning skate at Warrior Ice Arena. The current hope is that Carlo will be cleared by early next week, with Boston traveling to New Jersey for games on Monday and Tuesday.

David Pastrnak is just two goals away from 200 for his career.

Boston had its 10-game win streak vs. the Sabres snapped with a 6-4 loss in Buffalo on April 23 in the last game between these teams. The B's are 19-4-1 in their last 24 games overall vs. Buffalo and 5-0-0 in their last five on home ice.

Rookie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is expected to get the start in net for Buffalo.