Boston Bruins

Rask (36 Saves) And Marchand (Two Goals) Lead Bruins To 3-2 Win Over Sabres

Published

4 years ago

November 21, 2019

Tuukka Rask made 36 saves, Brad Marchand lit the lamp twice and the Boston Bruins won their second straight game with a 3-2 win over the Buffalo Sabres at TD Garden Thursday night. The Bruins have now earned at least a point in six straight games and now trail the Capitals by just three points for the best record in the Eastern Conference.

David Pastrnak scored what proved to be the game-winner 1:56 into the third period. The Sabres got goals from defensemen Rasmus Ristolainen and Brandon Montour.

Ristolainen gave the Sabres a 1-0 lead on the powerplay 5:25 into regulation. Jack Eichel and Victor Olofsson got the helpers on the Sabres defenseman’s first of the season.

While the Sabres absolutely dominated the opening frame, the Bruins somehow went into the first intermission tied at one with the Sabres. Rask was absolutely phenomenal throughout the period and especially through the opening ten minutes as the Sabres came out flying and peppered him with grade A scoring chances. Buffalo outshot Boston 17-4 in the period.

Marchand made one of only four Bruins shots in the period count as he tipped ina Zdeno Chara blast from the point to beat Ullmark at 13:52 and tie the game with his 14th goal of the season. Pastrnak had the secondary assist.

MARCHAND TIP DRILL

We’ve got a tie game 1-1 #NHLBruins pic.twitter.com/tOw3wo4Fbi

— Marina Molnar (@mkmolnar) November 22, 2019

The Bruins seemed to wake up in the second period and ended up out-shooting Buffalo 14-7 in the middle frame. Thanks to some solid goaltending by Ullmark though, they were only able to connect on one of those 14 shots and needed a power play from a Rasmus Asplund holding penalty to do so. Marchand was ‘Johnny On The Spot’ again as he buried home a juicy rebound off a Matt Grzelcyk shot for a 2-1 Bruins lead and his 15th goal of the season. Danton Heinen had the other helper on the powerplay tally.

Pastrnak’s league-leading 20th goal of the season came on the powerplay and padded the Bruins lead to 3-1 at 1:56 of the third period. Heinen and Patrice Bergeron got the assists.

David Pastrnak with his 20th goal of the season.. 3-1 #NHLBruins https://t.co/QqQIbUZmVc pic.twitter.com/cRHZqjO50M

— Marina Molnar (@mkmolnar) November 22, 2019

Just four minutes later though, Rask was forced to bail the Bruins out again after another defensive lapse when he absolutely robbed Sabres forward Evan Rodrigues with what is now a save of the year candidate!