Sabres Stun Bruins in Dramatic Game 1 Comeback

Buffalo rallies from two-goal deficit in third period to win playoff opener in front of raucous home crowd

Apr. 20, 2026 at 3:52am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a hockey game with fragmented, overlapping shapes of players, puck, and arena in vibrant blues, reds, and whites, capturing the intensity and energy of the playoff matchup.The Sabres' dramatic comeback victory over the Bruins in Game 1 showcases the team's resilience and the electric atmosphere in Buffalo.Buffalo Today

The Buffalo Sabres overcame a 2-0 deficit in the third period, scoring four unanswered goals to defeat the Boston Bruins 4-3 in Game 1 of their opening-round playoff series. The comeback victory, capped by Mattias Samuelsson's late game-winning goal, sent the KeyBank Center crowd into a frenzy and marked the Sabres' first postseason win in over 5,400 days.

Why it matters

The Sabres' dramatic comeback win not only gave the long-suffering Buffalo fans a night to remember, but it also proved this team's resilience and ability to win high-stakes playoff games despite being underdogs for much of the season. The victory sets the Sabres up well in their series against the Bruins and shows they have the talent and mental toughness to make a deep playoff run.

The details

The Bruins jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the third period, but the Sabres stormed back with four unanswered goals. Tage Thompson scored twice to tie the game, and Mattias Samuelsson netted the game-winner with under four minutes remaining to complete the comeback. Alex Tuch added an empty-net goal to seal the victory.

  • The Sabres scored four goals in the third period to overcome a 2-0 deficit.
  • Mattias Samuelsson scored the game-winning goal with under four minutes left in regulation.

The players

Tage Thompson

The Sabres' leading scorer and Team USA gold medalist, Thompson scored two goals to spark the comeback.

Mattias Samuelsson

The Sabres defenseman scored the game-winning goal late in the third period and was a defensive standout with multiple shot blocks and nine hits.

Lindy Ruff

The Sabres' head coach, who is in his second stint with the team, praised his players' resilience and experience after the dramatic victory.

Jeremy Swayman

The Bruins goaltender had played well for over two periods before the Sabres' comeback.

David Pastrnak

The Bruins star forward was denied on a couple of breakaway opportunities by Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen.

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What they’re saying

“You could feel the building shaking. The atmosphere was unbelievable. It was great to give our fans that third period.”

— Lindy Ruff, Sabres Head Coach

“This team doesn't quit. They just don't give up.”

— Lindy Ruff, Sabres Head Coach

“We've been in situations all season that have prepared us for games like this. It's another level, and intensity ramps up, but we've been in situations where we've been behind in games and found our way out of it. So when we're in similar situations, we know we can do it again.”

— Tage Thompson, Sabres Forward

“Samuelsson was an absolute stud in the game.”

— Lindy Ruff, Sabres Head Coach

“These are the kind of games you live for. You want to be in these games. It's been a long time coming.”

— Tage Thompson, Sabres Forward

What’s next

The Sabres and Bruins will face off in Game 2 of their first-round playoff series on Tuesday night in Buffalo.

The takeaway

The Sabres' dramatic comeback victory in Game 1 not only thrilled their long-suffering fans, but it also demonstrated this team's resilience, experience, and belief that they can win big games in the playoffs. Buffalo's ability to rally from a two-goal deficit against a formidable opponent like the Bruins suggests the Sabres have the talent and mental toughness to make a deep postseason run.