The Buffalo Sabres’ power-play drought finally ended on Thursday and they created a flurry of chances 5-on-5, but they fell to the Boston Bruins 3-2 at TD Garden.
Rasmus Ristolainen and Brandon Montour scored for Buffalo while Linus Ullmark made 24 saves in net.
However, Tukka Rask was strong in net for Boston, stopping 36 shots. Brad Marchand scored twice for Boston, including a power-play goal of his own. David Pastrnak, the NHL’s leader in goals, tallied early in the third period while on the power play for his 20th of the season. That goal proved to be the difference.
Boston went 2-for-2 on the power play, while the Sabres finished 1-for-4.
Ristolainen opened the scoring 5:25 into the game when he scored on the power play. Parked in front of the net, the Sabres defenseman muscled the puck into the net to put the Sabres ahead.
While Sabres fans might not be used to seeing Ristolainen as a net-front presence, it’s a position he’s quite familiar with. He said he played there often in Finland, prior to making the NHL.
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