04/21/26 09:48:00
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04/21 21:46 CDT Arvidsson scores 2 and the Bruins beat the Sabres 4-2 to even
first-round series at 1
Arvidsson scores 2 and the Bruins beat the Sabres 4-2 to even first-round
series at 1
By JOHN WAWROW
AP Hockey Writer
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) --- Morgan Geekie bounced in a shot from beyond center as
part of Boston's three-goal second-period surge and the Bruins beat the Buffalo
Sabres 4-2 to even their first-round playoff series at 1 on Tuesday night.
Viktor Arvidsson scored twice and Pavel Zacha also scored. David Pastrnak had
two assists to give him five points in the series and tie Bobby Orr for eighth
on the Bruins career playoff list with 92 points.
Jeremy Swayman stopped 32 shots, and this time Boston managed to not blow a
multigoal third-period lead.
Bowen Byram and Peyton Krebs scored 1:14 apart to cut Boston's lead to 4-2 with
4:52 remaining in regulation before being stymied by Swayman, who stopped the
final eight shots he faced.
The Sabres opened the series with a 4-3 win in which they overcame a 2-0
third-period deficit by scoring four times in the final 7:58 of regulation on
Sunday.
The series shifts to Boston for Game 3 on Thursday night.
Rather than carry over the momentum from Sunday, the Sabres gradually sagged
due to spotty goaltending and an anemic power play.
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen finished with 15 saves and was pulled after allowing
Arvidsson's second goal 16 seconds into the third period to put Boston up 4-0.
Alex Lyon mopped up and finished stopping all seven shots he faced.
Luukkonen looked shaky on three of the four goals allowed.
Arvidsson opened the scoring 4:54 into the second period by beating Buffalo
defender Mattias Samuelsson to a loose puck. He then drove in and beat
Luukkonen through the legs after the goalie was late in getting his stick down.
Then came Geekie's goal some 12 minutes later. From just outside the center
line, the forward flipped a high backhander at the Buffalo net. Luukkonen came
out of his crease in an attempt to glove it, only to have the puck bounce past
him.
After Zacha redirected Pastrnak's centering pass for a power-play goal with
1:50 left in the second period, Arvidsson scored by driving up the right wing
and beating Luukkonen through the legs from 25 feet.
Buffalo's power play continued to struggle in going 0-of-5 on Tuesday and
0-of-9 in two games. The drought extends into the season, after Buffalo closed
0-for-22 over its final seven games.
The Sabres are making their first playoff appearance after winning their first
Atlantic Division title and snapping an NHL-record 14-season playoff drought.
With the city still buzzing from Buffalo's stunning win in Game 1, Bills
quarterback Josh Allen kicked things off by beating the drum to lead the "Let's
go, Buffalo!" chants. The new father, wearing the jersey of Sabres forward and
occasional golf partner Alex Tuch, then chugged a can of beer before violently
throwing it to the ground to a crescendo of cheers.
___
AP NHL playoffs: https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cup and
https://apnews.com/hub/nhl
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