Sabres Stun Bruins with Late Comeback

Buffalo rallies from behind with three unanswered goals to take Game 1 of playoff series

Apr. 20, 2026 at 3:06pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a hockey game, with sharp overlapping planes of blue, gold, and black representing the players, puck, and arena.The Sabres' dramatic late-game rally against the Bruins showcases the intensity and unpredictability of the NHL playoffs.Buffalo Today

The Buffalo Sabres overcame a late deficit, scoring three unanswered goals in the final minutes to defeat the Boston Bruins 3-1 in Game 1 of their NHL playoff series.

Why it matters

The Sabres' dramatic comeback win on the road against the heavily favored Bruins sets the tone for what could be a hard-fought and unpredictable playoff matchup between the two division rivals.

The details

Trailing 1-0 late in the third period, the Sabres tied the game on a goal by Tage Thompson before defenseman Mattias Samuelsson put Buffalo ahead. Alex Tuch then sealed the victory with an empty-net goal in the final seconds.

  • The game-tying goal by Tage Thompson came with just over 3 minutes remaining in regulation.
  • Mattias Samuelsson scored the go-ahead goal for the Sabres with 1:12 left on the clock.
  • Alex Tuch's empty-net goal came in the final 10 seconds of the game.

The players

Tage Thompson

Sabres forward who scored the game-tying goal late in the third period.

Mattias Samuelsson

Sabres defenseman who netted the go-ahead goal in the final minutes of regulation.

Alex Tuch

Sabres forward who scored an empty-net goal to seal the victory for Buffalo.

Jeremy Swayman

Bruins goaltender who made 29 saves but was unable to hold off the Sabres' late comeback.

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What they’re saying

“That was a huge character win for our team. We never quit and found a way to get it done in the end.”

— Tage Thompson, Sabres forward

“We let our guard down for a few minutes and they made us pay. We have to be better at closing out games.”

— Jeremy Swayman, Bruins goaltender

What’s next

The Sabres and Bruins will face off again in Game 2 on Sunday, April 23 at 7:00 PM ET.

The takeaway

Buffalo's stunning comeback victory on the road against their division rival Bruins demonstrates the Sabres' resilience and ability to capitalize on late-game opportunities, setting the stage for what could be an exciting and unpredictable playoff series between these two teams.