23 April 2026 at 23:00
Match Summary
Buffalo Sabres defeated Boston Bruins 3:1. The match was played in NHL 2025. Goals were scored by T. Jeannot 3′, B. Byram 10′, A. Tuch 4′, N. Ostlund 18′. Score by period: P1: 0–0, P2: 1–1, P3: 0–2.
Match Context
Stanley Cup Playoffs — Eastern Conference First Round, Game 3
Sabres seize series lead at TD Garden after Boston had taken Game 2.
Pre-Match Analysis
Boston Bruins Form
W-L-W
Buffalo Sabres Form
L-W-L
Head to Head
Series tied 1-1 entering Game 3.
Injuries & Suspensions
- •Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (BUF) replaced after 16 seconds of Game 2 third period — Lyon got the start in Game 3.
Match Report
Tanner Jeannot opened for Boston in the second, Bowen Byram tied it later in the second, Alex Tuch put Buffalo ahead in the third, and Noah Ostlund added an empty-netter to seal it.
Turning Point
Bowen Byram's equalizer at 10:58 of the second after a feed from rookie Noah Ostlund — the first sign that Lyon's shutdown work would be enough, even from a one-goal deficit.
Buffalo lead the best-of-seven 2-1, with Game 4 returning to TD Garden on Sunday.
Match Events
Key match events between Boston Bruins and Buffalo Sabres — 4 goals and 11 cards recorded during the match.
Delay of game
Holding
Roughing
Tripping
Cross-checking
O. Power
High sticking
B. Byram
Interference
Tripping
Empty net
Roughing
Cross-checking
Roughing
Boston Bruins vs Buffalo Sabres Head to Head Results
Boston Bruins and Buffalo Sabres have met 96 times — Boston Bruins won 60, Buffalo Sabres won 36, with 0 draws. Their rivalry dates back to 2008. Boston Bruins leads the head-to-head with 60 victories from 96 meetings. A combined 541 goals have been scored across these fixtures, averaging 5.64 per match (300 for the home side, 241 for the visitors). Both teams scored in 86 matches (90%). Over 2.5 goals landed in 94 games (98%), making it a fixture that tends to produce goals. The highest-scoring encounter finished 7–6 in 2011.
60
Boston Bruins
0
Drawn
36
Buffalo Sabres
Recent Meetings (96)
Match Analysis AI
Lyon Steals Game 3, Sabres Take 2-1 Series Lead at TD Garden
Alex Lyon, in his first start of the series, stopped 24 of 25 shots; Bowen Byram, Alex Tuch and Noah Ostlund (empty net) scored; and the Buffalo Sabres beat the Boston Bruins 3-1 at TD Garden on Thursday to take a 2-1 lead in the Eastern Conference First Round.
Boston Bruins 1 - 3 Buffalo Sabres (periods 0-0, 1-1, 0-2)
Goals: 23:26 Jeannot (McAvoy) — 30:58 Byram (Ostlund), 44:03 Tuch (Thompson), 58:36 Ostlund (Byram, EN).
Goalies: Swayman (25 saves) — Lyon (24 saves).
Series: Buffalo lead 2-1.
Boston scores first — for the third straight game
Tanner Jeannot opened the scoring 3:26 into the second period off a Charlie McAvoy assist for Boston's third straight first goal of the series. The pattern, however, has stopped translating to wins. Bowen Byram tied it at 10:58 from a feed from rookie Noah Ostlund — Ostlund's first playoff point in his playoff debut after returning from injury.
Tuch breaks Boston, Lyon makes it stick
Alex Tuch put Buffalo ahead at 4:03 of the third with help from Tage Thompson, and that's the lead Lyon protected the rest of the way. Boston pushed late but Lyon held — the only Bruin he could not deny was Jeannot. Ostlund hit the empty net at 18:36 to make it three-and-done.
Lyon, the difference
After Luukkonen allowed seven goals on 40 shots across Games 1-2, head coach Lindy Ruff went with Lyon — the move paid off immediately. Swayman was solid for Boston with 25 saves of his own but watched his team blow another first-period lead, the third straight game in which the Bruins scored first only to lose the lead.
What it means
Buffalo lead the best-of-seven 2-1 with Game 4 also at TD Garden on Sunday. Lyon's surprise emergence as the playoff starter changes Buffalo's calculus — and the road sweep would have been an enormous shift if he had to relinquish the crease on a single bad moment.
Player Ratings
Alex Lyon (Buffalo Sabres)
24 saves on 25 shots in his first start of the series after Luukkonen's Game 2 collapse.
Bowen Byram (Buffalo Sabres)
Equalizer in the second period and primary assist on Ostlund's empty-netter.
Alex Tuch (Buffalo Sabres)
Game-winning goal early in the third period from a Tage Thompson assist.
Tanner Jeannot (Boston Bruins)
Boston's lone goal at 3:26 of the second from Charlie McAvoy; lone Bruin to break Lyon.
Match Videos
Sabres vs. Bruins | NHL Playoff Highlights | Game 3 | April 23, 2026
NHL Game 3 Highlights | Sabres vs. Bruins - April 23, 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the final score of Bruins vs Sabres Game 3?
Buffalo Sabres 3, Boston Bruins 1.
Who made the goalie change for Buffalo?
Alex Lyon started Game 3 after Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen was pulled in Game 2; Lyon made 24 saves on 25 shots.
Who scored the game-winning goal?
Alex Tuch at 4:03 of the third period, assisted by Tage Thompson.
Where was Game 3 played?
TD Garden in Boston.
What is the series score?
Buffalo lead the Eastern Conference First Round series 2-1.
Who scored Boston's only goal?
Tanner Jeannot at 3:26 of the second period from Charlie McAvoy.
API data: 24 Apr 2026