Sabres Aim to Clinch First Series in 15 Years at Boston

Sport

By lines

May 1, 2026

Sabres Look To Clinch At Bruins In Game 6 Hero

The Sabres carry a 3-2 series lead into Game 6 at TD Garden on Friday at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN. Buffalo can clinch its first playoff series victory since the 2006-07 season. The Bruins need a win to force a decisive Game 7 on Sunday.

Pastrnak Vows Offense After OT Heroics in Game 5

David Pastrnak scored on a breakaway at 9:14 of overtime in Game 5 to keep Boston alive. Pastrnak delivered a message to Bruins fans after that win. “Just be loud, please, and be patient,” Pastrnak said. “We’re going to shoot the puck.”

Boston lost Games 3 and 4 at home by a combined score of 9-2. Nikita Zadorov called the Game 4 loss “embarrassing” for the fans. The Bruins want to “redeem” themselves at TD Garden in Game 6. Coach Marco Sturm shuffled his lines for Game 5 and liked the result.

Rasmus Dahlin broke a 0 for 39 power play drought for the Sabres in Game 5. Dahlin scored at 3:35 of the first period. Buffalo’s power play showed steady improvement across the series. That unit could become a decisive weapon in Game 6.

Josh Norris returns to the Buffalo lineup at third line center after missing three games. Noah Ostlund will miss “some time” with a lower body injury sustained in Game 5. Logan Stanley is a game time decision due to illness. Michael Kesselring would slot in if Stanley cannot play.

Jeremy Swayman has been at “a different level” for Boston in these playoffs. Swayman stopped 28 of 29 shots in the Game 5 overtime win. Alex Lyon starts in goal for Buffalo. The Sabres ended the longest active playoff drought in NHL history this spring.