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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.<\/p>\n
Michael Dwyer\/AP<\/p>\n
Buffalo Sabres’ Zach Benson (6) scores on Boston Bruins’ Jeremy Swayman (1) during the first period in Game 4 of a first-round NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series, Sunday, April 26, 2026, in Boston.<\/p>\n
Michael Dwyer\/AP<\/p>\n
Boston Bruins’ Hampus Lindholm (27) falls on Buffalo Sabres’ Tyson Kozak (48) while battling for the puck during the first period in Game 4 of a first-round NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series, Sunday, April 26, 2026, in Boston.<\/p>\n
Michael Dwyer\/AP<\/p>\n
Buffalo Sabres’ Alex Lyon makes a save during the third period in Game 4 of a first-round NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series against the Boston Bruins, Sunday, April 26, 2026, in Boston.<\/p>\n
Michael Dwyer\/AP<\/p>\n
The Buffalo Sabres celebrate as they leave the ice after defeating the Boston Bruins in Game 4 of a first-round NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series, Sunday, April 26, 2026, in Boston.<\/p>\n
Michael Dwyer\/AP<\/p>\n
BOSTON (AP) \u2014 Sabres coach Lindy Ruff shut down any talk of putting forwards Tyson Kozak and Jason Zucker back in after injuries sent them to the locker room late in Game 4 of Buffalo’s first-round playoff series against the Bruins.<\/p>\n
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\u201cI said \u2018There\u2019s no need to return at this time,\u2019” Ruff said on Sunday after the Sabres waylaid the Bruins 6-1 in Boston. “Just treat them and leave them in the dressing room. Just for where the game was at.\u201d<\/p>\n
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It was that kind of day for Buffalo \u2014 and Boston.<\/p>\n
Josh Doan had a goal and an assist during Buffalo\u2019s four-goal first-period, and Alex Lyon stopped 21 shots to help the Sabres take a 3-1 lead in their first-round playoff series. Buffalo, which fell behind in each of the first three games, took a 6-0 lead before the Bruins got on the board in the final minute.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am embarrassed, and we all should be,\u201d Bruins coach Marco Sturm said. “And we\u2019re all (upset), and we will talk about it, but then we have to move on.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs far as I know, you have to win four games to move on. They\u2019ve got three, so that means we still have a chance,\u201d he said. “And I can cry about it, but I also have to push my guys for the next game and make sure our intensity is going to be there.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Peyton Krebs, Zach Benson and Bowen Byram also scored to help Buffalo open a 4-0 lead. Beck Malenstyn and Alex Tuch scored 84 seconds apart in the third period to make it 6-0 and chase Bruins goalie Jeremy Swayman.<\/p>\n
Boston split the games in Buffalo and needed just one win at home to avoid moving to the brink of elimination. Instead 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey beat us once in our building, so I\u2019m sure that they\u2019re going to come in feeling confident and motivated. We have to be ready for that,\u201d Lyon said. \u201cSometimes when you have a really good game, it\u2019s almost harder to a degree to curb that emotion. So, enjoy it for a hot second, and then we’ve got a job to do.\u201d<\/p>\n
Swayman stopped 23 shots for Boston before he was pulled at 46 minutes, 41 seconds, shouting down the bench in frustration as he left the ice. Joonas Korpisalo stopped all six shots he faced the rest of the way.<\/p>\n
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\u201cAt least the one guy\u201d showed emotion, Sturm said. \u201cIt was not his fault today, I can tell you that. Felt bad for him. That\u2019s why we kept him in there for a while, because he\u2019s a battler. He wants to be in.\u201d<\/p>\n
Krebs scored 4:17 into the game, Doan\u2019s 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\u2019s second four-goal period of the series; the Sabres rallied from a 2-0 third-period deficit to win 4-3 in Game 1.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Sean Kuraly scored a short-handed goal in the final minute to avert the Bruins’ first shoutout of the season.<\/p>\n
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The Sabres lost Kozak<\/a> after a hit from Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy midway through the third period sent him into the boards. It wasn’t clear what happened to Zucker, who last appeared in the play-by-play with about five minutes left.<\/p>\n Buffalo\u2019s power-play woes continued \u2014 sort of. After failing to score on their first 13 man advantages in the series \u2014 and their last 22 in the regular season \u2014 the Sabres\u2019 second goal came just after a Boston penalty expired, but before Viktor Arvidsson had gotten back into play.<\/p>\n But they were officially 0 for 2 on the power play, extending their drought to 15 in the series and 37 overall.<\/p>\n \u201cYou could say we\u2019re going to be 0-for-whatever. I really don\u2019t care right now,\u201d Ruff said. \u201cAs far as I\u2019m concerned, we scored a power-play goal. The guy was still in the box, and it looked good.\u201d<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Up next<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n AP NHL playoffs: https:\/\/apnews.com\/hub\/stanley-cup and <\/a>https:\/\/apnews.com\/hub\/nhl<\/a>\n<\/p>\n