Buffalo Sabres' Josh Doan (91) celebrates his goal with Zach Benson (6) beside Boston Bruins' Jeremy Swayman (1) and Charlie McAvoy (73) during the first period in Game 4 of a first-round NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series, Sunday, April 26, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

By The Canadian Press

Sabres erupt for 4 goals in first period, win 6-1 to push Bruins to 3-1 hole in series

Apr 26, 2026 | 3:09 PM

BOSTON (AP) — Josh Doan had a goal and an assist during Buffalo’s four-goal first-period, and Alex Lyon stopped 21 shots to lead the Sabres to a 6-1 victory over the Boston Bruins on Sunday for a 3-1 lead in their first-round playoff series.

Peyton Krebs, Zach Benson and Bowen Byram also scored to help Buffalo open a 4-0 lead against a Boston team that needed a win at home to avoid moving to the brink of elimination. Beck Malenstyn and Alex Tuch scored 84 seconds apart in the third period to make it 6-0 and chase Bruins goalie Jeremy Swayman.

The Sabres, who won the Atlantic Division to end an NHL-record 14-year playoff drought, can finish off the best-of-seven series in Game 5 on Tuesday night in Buffalo for their first playoff series win since 2007.

Krebs scored 4:17 into the game, Doan’s goal came less than three minutes later and Benson followed two minutes after that. When Byram made it 4-0 just 14:24 into the game, it was Buffalo’s second four-goal period of the series; the Sabres rallied from a 2-0 third-period deficit to win 4-3 in Game 1.

The last time the Bruins allowed four goals in the first period of a playoff game, they were facing the Hartford Whalers in the first round of the 1991 postseason. Sean Kuraly scored a short-handed goal in the final minute to avert the Bruins’ first shoutout of the season.

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Swayman stopped 23 shots in 46 minutes, 41 seconds for Boston, which returned to the postseason under first-year coach Marco Sturm after a one-year absence. Joonas Korpisalo stopped all six shots he faced the rest of the way.

Buffalo’s power-play woes continued — sort of. After failing to score on their first 13 man advantages in the series — and their last 22 in the regular season — the Sabres’ second goal came just after a Boston penalty expired, but before Viktor Arvidsson had gotten back into play.

But they were officially 0 for 2 on the power play, extending their drought to 15 in the series and 37 overall.

Up next

The Sabres will have a chance to eliminate Boston in Buffalo on Tuesday night, with a Game 6 back at the TD Garden on Friday, if necessary.

___

AP NHL playoffs: https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cup and https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Jimmy Golen, The Associated Press

by The Canadian Press

Sabres erupt for 4 goals in first period, win 6-1 to push Bruins to 3-1 hole in series

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