Tage Thompson and Mattias Samuelsson engineered a furious comeback to win Game 1.
Tage Thompson’s first and second career playoff goals ignited a furious comeback by the Buffalo Sabres, who stormed to a 4-3 win in Game 1 of their first-round series against the Boston Bruins at KeyBank Center on Sunday.
The Sabres trailed 2-0 when Thompson broke Jeremy Swayman’s shutout with 7:59 remaining. Thompson scored a second goal to tie the game, then Mattias Samuelsson netted the go-ahead goal with 3:24 left to play.
Alex Tuch added an empty-net goal for the Sabres. David Pastrnak scored the Bruins’ third goal with 6.2 seconds remaining.
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 17 saves in his playoff debut, including a pair of breakaway stops on Pastrnak.
The Sabres established themselves physically early and often, finishing with a season-high 52 hits. Tuch led with 10, followed by Samuelsson with nine.
The Sabres lead the series 1-0 with Game 2 set for Tuesday.
Statistics
Scoring summary
BOS 1 – BUF 0 | Period 1, 10:52 – Morgan Geekie (1) from David Pastrnak (1) and Nikita Zadorov (1)
BOS 2 – BUF 0 | Period 3, 1:08 – Elias Lindholm (1) from Morgan Geekie (1) and David Pastrnak (2)
BOS 2 – BUF 1 | Period 3, 12:01 – Tage Thompson (1) from Peyton Krebs (1)
Tage Thompson scores his first of the playoffs
BOS 2 – BUF 2 | Period 3, 15:44 – Tage Thompson (2) from Alex Tuch (1)
Tage Thompson ties the game at 2-2
BOS 2 – BUF 3 | Period 3, 16:36 – Mattias Samuelsson (1) from Jack Quinn (1)
Mattias Samuelsson gives the Sabres a 3-2 lead
BOS 2 – BUF 4 | Period 3, 18:48 (EN) – Alex Tuch (1) from Tage Thompson (1) and Owen Power (1)
Alex Tuch scores empty net goal
BOS 3 – BUF 4 | Period 3, 19:52 (PP) – David Pastrnak (1) unassisted
Full highlights
FINAL | Sabres 4 – Bruins 3
Photo galleries
Victory speech
Go inside the room following the comeback win!
Postgame sound
Lindy Ruff – Apr. 19, 2026
Mattias Samuelsson & Tage Thompson – Apr. 19, 2026
Rasmus Dahlin – Apr. 19, 2026
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen – Apr. 19, 2026
Up next
The Sabres host Game 2 at KeyBank Center on Tuesday. Coverage on MSG begins at 7 p.m. with puck drop scheduled for 7:30.
Fans outside of the Sabres broadcast market can watch the game on ESPN.
