Buffalo Wins Game 3 in Boston, Moves Ahead vs Bruins

Buffalo edged Boston

Sabres score three unanswered to rally past Bruins 3-1 in Game 3. Lyon denies penalty shot, Buffalo now up 2-1. Teams 0-for-8 on power plays.

Sabres score three unanswered to beat Bruins, take 2-1 series lead...

The Buffalo Sabres took down the Boston Bruins 3-1 in Game 3 on Thursday night, moving ahead 2-1 in the series.

Sabres goalie Alex Lyon stopped 24 shots in his first playoff start.

 

The series stays in Boston for Game 4 with the Bruins looking to tie it up. Historically, teams that open at home and take a 2-1 lead in a first-round series advance 74% of the time.

Tight Start, No Goals Early  

Both sides traded chances in the first, totaling 14 shots and two power plays apiece, but neither broke through. The period ended 0-0.

Jeannot Breaks the Ice

The deadlock held until 3:16 of the second when Tanner Jeannot notched his first career playoff goal, giving Boston a 1-0 lead.

TANNER JEANNOT GETS THE BRUINS ON THE BOARD FIRST!!! #StanleyCup

📺: @NHL_on_TNT, @Sportsnet & @TVASports 2 pic.twitter.com/uXWNw41ckA

— NHL (@NHL) April 24, 2026

Power Play Woes Continue

A Morgan Geekie high-sticking penalty gave Buffalo its third power play of the night. The Sabres couldn’t convert again, dropping to 0-for-12 in the series.

Lyon Denies Penalty Shot 

Boston had a prime chance to double the lead when Viktor Arvidsson was awarded a penalty shot. Lyon turned him away, becoming just the second Sabres goalie after Dominik Hasek to stop a playoff penalty shot.

The Sabres answered soon after.

 

Bowen Byram tied it 1-1 with his second goal of the playoffs.

Buffalo got a fourth power play but came up empty again, falling to 0-for-13 in the series.

BO KNOWS!! 😤

What a pass from Noah Ostlund and we've got a tie game! #StanleyCup

🇺🇸: @NHL_on_TNT
🇨🇦: @Sportsnet & @TVASports 2 pic.twitter.com/BNuGXUmWDV

— NHL (@NHL) April 24, 2026

Four minutes into the third, Buffalo grabbed its first lead of the night.

Alex Tuch buried his second of the playoffs to make it 2-1 Sabres.

Alex Tuch(s) it home! ✌️ #StanleyCup

🇺🇸: @NHL_on_TNT
🇨🇦: @Sportsnet & @TVASports 2 pic.twitter.com/qe1x5fXnzJ

— NHL (@NHL) April 24, 2026

Seven of Buffalo’s last eight goals in the series have come in the third period - the most by any team in the playoffs.

Boston got consecutive power plays after Tuch’s goal in the third but couldn’t capitalize.

 

With the goalie pulled, Boston gave up a third goal - Noah Ostlund’s first of the playoffs - sealing Buffalo’s 2-1 series lead.

The teams finished a combined 0-for-8 on the power play in Game 3. The series stays in Boston for Game 4.

Buffalo edged Boston in shots 28-25 and hits 35-33, with faceoffs nearly even at 51% to 49%.