Bruins Rally in Third, Upend Sabres in OT for Pivotal Win

David Pastrnak and Pavel Zacha lead Boston's comeback against Atlantic Division-leading Buffalo

Mar. 26, 2026 at 6:52am

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The visiting Boston Bruins rallied from a one-goal deficit in the third period and then won in overtime, defeating the Buffalo Sabres 4-3 on Wednesday. David Pastrnak opened the scoring and assisted on Pavel Zacha's game-winning goal in overtime, helping the Bruins improve their playoff positioning in the Eastern Conference.

Why it matters

This was an important win for the Bruins as they try to better their playoff position in the Eastern Conference. The Sabres have been one of the hottest teams in the NHL since December, so this comeback victory against the Atlantic Division leaders is a significant result for Boston.

The details

The Bruins trailed 3-2 late in the third period, but Casey Mittelstadt tied the game with six minutes remaining to force overtime. In the extra session, Pastrnak set up Zacha for the game-winning goal just 38 seconds into OT. Boston goaltender Joonas Korpisalo made 22 saves to earn the victory.

  • David Pastrnak opened the scoring with 8:53 remaining in the first period.
  • Buffalo's Jason Zucker tied the game at 1-1 with 4:42 left in the first period.
  • Viktor Arvidsson gave Boston a 2-1 lead midway through the second period.
  • Zach Benson tied the game at 2-2 early in the third period.
  • Jason Zucker put Buffalo up 3-2 just 33 seconds after Benson's goal.

The players

David Pastrnak

A star forward for the Boston Bruins who opened the scoring and recorded two assists in the game.

Pavel Zacha

The Bruins' overtime hero, scoring the game-winning goal 38 seconds into the extra period.

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen

The Buffalo Sabres' goaltender who made 27 saves in the losing effort.

Tage Thompson

The Sabres' leading scorer who recorded an assist on one of Jason Zucker's goals.

Jason Zucker

The Sabres' forward who scored two goals in the game, including the go-ahead tally in the third period.

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What they’re saying

“We must find a way to close out games like this against the top teams. This is a tough loss, but we'll learn from it and come back stronger.”

— Tage Thompson, Sabres Forward

“I'm proud of the way our guys battled back and found a way to win this pivotal game on the road. It was a big character win for us.”

— Jim Montgomery, Bruins Head Coach

What’s next

The Bruins will look to build on this comeback win as they continue their push for a higher playoff seed in the Eastern Conference. The Sabres, still atop the Atlantic Division, will aim to rebound in their next game.

The takeaway

This game showcased the resilience of the Boston Bruins, who refused to give up despite trailing late against the league-leading Sabres. The Bruins' ability to rally and win in overtime demonstrates their determination to improve their playoff positioning down the stretch.