Final: Bruins 4, Sabres 3 (F/OT) - Khusnutdinov scores overtime winner, Geekie extends goal streak to 6 games

The Boston Bruins defeat the Buffalo Sabres in a 4-3 overtime victory.

After a strong offensive start by the Bruins, the Sabres clawed their way back in the second half of the game. However, Boston was able to get it done when it mattered most and picked up the extra point.

Despite recording less than 10 shots on goal in the first period, the Bruins scored two goals to take an early lead. Rasmus Dahlin received a tripping penalty midway into the first period, and Morgan Geekie fired a goal in the slot after receiving a pass from Pavel Zacha.

Four minutes later, David Pastrnak carried the puck into Buffalo's zone on a two-on-one, and he sniped a goal past Alex Lyon to make it 2-0 Boston. 

Neither side generated much offense to start the second period, but the Sabres applied the pressure during the final minutes. On a power play with three minutes left in the period, Dahlin fired a slap shot from the point to give the Sabres their first goal of the game.

However, the Bruins responded with a late goal of their own by Mark Kastelic, who crashed the net and tapped in a goal to maintain a two-goal lead for Boston.

In the third period, the Sabres continued pressuring Boston for the final 20 minutes of regulation. The Sabres transitioned the puck into Boston's zone, and Josh Doan scored Buffalo's second goal off an awkward rebound in front of the net.

And with a little over five minutes left in regulation, Alex Tuch fired a shot past Joonas Korpisalo right after a won face-off draw by the Sabres. The Bruins challenged the goal for goaltender interference, but the goal stood, sending the game into overtime.

The Bruins started overtime with a 44 second power play that they failed to capitalize on. Midway into overtime after both sides traded shots on net, Marat Khusnutdinov became the hero with a two-on-one goal to pick up the extra point for Boston.

Boston received another great offensive night from their top point scorers, and they also received another quality start from Korpisalo, who faced over 40 shots through the course of this game.

An overtime win is always a great feeing for fans, but the sour story to come out of this game was Elias Lindholm exiting the game due to an injury. In the second period, Lindholm accidentally collided with Jordan Greeway at natural ice, and left the game following the collision.

Boston continues their homestead with a game against the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday. Puck drop will be at 1 p.m. 

_________________

WHO: Bruins (5-7-0) at Sabres (4-4-2)
WHEN: 7 p.m.
WHERE: KeyBank Center, Buffalo
TV: NESN
RADIO: 98.5-FM The Sports Hub

LIVE BOX SCORE

PROJECTED LINES

Boston

Khusnutdinov - E. Lindholm - Pastrnak

Mittelstadt - Zacha - Arvidsson

Jeannot - Minten - Geekie

Eyssimont - Kuraly - Kastelic

Zadorov - McAvoy

H. Lindholm - Peeke

Lohrei - Jokiharju

Korpisalo

Swayman

Sabres

Benson - Kulich - Thompson

Doan - McLeod - Tuch

Zucker - Greenway - Quinn

Dunne - Krebs - Malenstyn

Samuelsson - Dahlin

Power - Timmins

Byram - Kesselring

Lyon

Luukonen

PREGAME NOTES

The Bruins take on the Buffalo Sabres for the second time this season.

Elliott Friedman reported that there are ongoing talks between the Canucks and Bruins in a Pavel Zacha trade.

"I think it's all the way going back to the summer, the Canucks and Bruins have been on-off about this," Friedman reported about the Zacha rumors.

Hampus Lindholm will be in the lineup despite missing morning skate. Lindholm and his fiancé Amanda welcomed a baby girl this morning.