26 April 2026 at 18:00
Match Summary
Buffalo Sabres defeated Boston Bruins 6:1. The match was played in NHL 2025. Goals were scored by P. Krebs 4′, J. Doan 7′, Z. Benson 9′, B. Byram 14′, B. Malenstyn 5′, A. Tuch 6′, S. Kuraly 19′. League standings: Boston Bruins #5, Buffalo Sabres #2. Score by period: P1: 0–4, P2: 0–0, P3: 1–2.
Match Context
Stanley Cup Playoffs — Eastern Conference First Round, Game 4
Game 4 of the Eastern Conference First Round at TD Garden; Buffalo led the series 2-1.
Pre-Match Analysis
Boston Bruins Form
Boston dropped two of the first three series games and entered Game 4 needing to even the score.
Buffalo Sabres Form
Buffalo, the Atlantic Division regular-season winner, entered Game 4 with strong offensive rhythm.
Head to Head
Buffalo led the best-of-seven series 2-1 entering Game 4.
Match Report
Buffalo opened the game with a four-goal first period: Peyton Krebs in the fifth (Tuch), Josh Doan in the eighth (McLeod, Byram), Zach Benson in the 10th (Doan), and Bowen Byram in the 15th (Power, Quinn). The second period was scoreless. In the third, Beck Malenstyn (46th, with Greenway and Kozak assisting) and Alex Tuch (47th, Thompson and Krebs) made it 6-0. Sean Kuraly broke up the shutout in the 60th minute on a Peeke and Lindholm setup.
Turning Point
Four first-period goals. Buffalo decided the game in the opening 20 minutes; Boston never recovered, and after the second period the only question was the margin.
Buffalo leads the series 3-1 and can clinch at home in Game 5 at KeyBank Center. For Boston, the season is on the brink.
Match Events
Key match events between Boston Bruins and Buffalo Sabres — 7 goals and 8 cards recorded during the match.
Too many men on the ice
B. Byram
J. Quinn
Holding
Hooking
T. Kozak
P. Krebs
Slashing
Slashing
Roughing
Roughing
Cross-checking
A. Peeke
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 538 goals have been scored across these fixtures, averaging 5.60 per match (300 for the home side, 238 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)
Standings
Boston Bruins sit #5 and Buffalo Sabres are #2 in the NHL table heading into this match.
Western Conference
| # | GP | Won | Lost | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 82 | 48 | 16 | 121 | |
| 82 | 38 | 20 | 112 | |
| 82 | 31 | 24 | 104 | |
| 82 | 30 | 26 | 95 | |
| 82 | 32 | 30 | 93 | |
| 82 | 33 | 33 | 92 | |
| 82 | 26 | 33 | 92 | |
| 82 | 22 | 27 | 90 | |
| 82 | 27 | 35 | 86 | |
| 82 | 33 | 33 | 86 | |
| 82 | 28 | 34 | 86 | |
| 82 | 28 | 35 | 82 | |
| 82 | 26 | 37 | 79 | |
| 82 | 27 | 39 | 77 | |
| 82 | 22 | 39 | 72 | |
| 82 | 15 | 49 | 58 |
Eastern Conference
| # | GP | Won | Lost | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 82 | 39 | 22 | 113 | |
| 82 | 42 | 23 | 109 | |
| 82 | 40 | 26 | 106 | |
| 82 | 34 | 24 | 106 | |
| 82 | 33 | 27 | 100 | |
| 82 | 38 | 27 | 99 | |
| 82 | 34 | 25 | 98 | |
| 82 | 27 | 27 | 98 | |
| 82 | 37 | 30 | 95 | |
| 82 | 30 | 31 | 92 | |
| 82 | 28 | 30 | 92 | |
| 82 | 29 | 34 | 91 | |
| 82 | 29 | 37 | 87 | |
| 82 | 32 | 38 | 84 | |
| 82 | 23 | 36 | 78 | |
| 82 | 25 | 39 | 77 |
Atlantic Division
| # | GP | Won | Lost | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 82 | 42 | 23 | 109 | |
| 82 | 40 | 26 | 106 | |
| 82 | 34 | 24 | 106 | |
| 82 | 33 | 27 | 100 | |
| 82 | 38 | 27 | 99 | |
| 82 | 30 | 31 | 92 | |
| 82 | 32 | 38 | 84 | |
| 82 | 23 | 36 | 78 |
Central Division
| # | GP | Won | Lost | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 82 | 48 | 16 | 121 | |
| 82 | 38 | 20 | 112 | |
| 82 | 31 | 24 | 104 | |
| 82 | 33 | 33 | 92 | |
| 82 | 33 | 33 | 86 | |
| 82 | 28 | 34 | 86 | |
| 82 | 28 | 35 | 82 | |
| 82 | 22 | 39 | 72 |
Pacific Division
| # | GP | Won | Lost | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 82 | 30 | 26 | 95 | |
| 82 | 32 | 30 | 93 | |
| 82 | 26 | 33 | 92 | |
| 82 | 22 | 27 | 90 | |
| 82 | 27 | 35 | 86 | |
| 82 | 26 | 37 | 79 | |
| 82 | 27 | 39 | 77 | |
| 82 | 15 | 49 | 58 |
Metropolitan Division
| # | GP | Won | Lost | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 82 | 39 | 22 | 113 | |
| 82 | 34 | 25 | 98 | |
| 82 | 27 | 27 | 98 | |
| 82 | 37 | 30 | 95 | |
| 82 | 28 | 30 | 92 | |
| 82 | 29 | 34 | 91 | |
| 82 | 29 | 37 | 87 | |
| 82 | 25 | 39 | 77 |
Match Analysis AI
Sabres Drop Four in the First Period — Boston on the Brink
The Buffalo Sabres routed the Boston Bruins 6-1 in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference First Round at TD Garden, taking a 3-1 series lead with a chance to clinch in Game 5 at home. Four first-period goals broke the defending-conference Bruins.
Boston Bruins – Buffalo Sabres 1:6 (0:4, 0:0, 1:2)
Goals: 60. Kuraly (Peeke, Lindholm) – 5. Krebs (Tuch), 8. Doan (McLeod, Byram), 10. Benson (Doan), 15. Byram (Power, Quinn), 46. Malenstyn (Greenway, Kozak), 47. Tuch (Thompson, Krebs).
Goalies: Swayman – Lyon. Shots on goal: 22:31.
/series state: 1:3/
Four Goals in the First Period
Buffalo entered TD Garden hungry. Peyton Krebs opened the scoring in the 5th minute on a Tuch feed. Josh Doan made it 2-0 in the 8th, Zach Benson 3-0 in the 10th, and Bowen Byram 4-0 in the 15th. Boston had no answer, and the period ended with Buffalo carrying a four-goal lead into the dressing room.
A Scoreless Second, A Decisive Third
The second period was scoreless — Lyon turned away several Bruins chances. In the third, Beck Malenstyn made it 5-0 in the 46th and Alex Tuch added the sixth in the 47th.
Kuraly Saves the Shutout in the 60th
Sabres goalie Alex Lyon lost his shutout only in the 60th minute, when Sean Kuraly converted off feeds from Andrew Peeke and Hampus Lindholm — the only Bruins goal of the night.
What It Means
Buffalo leads 3-1 and can clinch the series at home in Game 5 at KeyBank Center. For Boston Bruins, the season hangs by a thread — the Bruins must win three straight to extend their playoffs. The Sabres, meanwhile, are one win from their first second-round appearance since 2011.
Player Ratings
Peyton Krebs (Buffalo Sabres)
Opened the scoring in the 5th and added the assist on Tuch's goal; the center drove the win.
Josh Doan (Buffalo Sabres)
Goal in the 8th and assist on Benson's strike; the young forward was the engine of the first period.
Bowen Byram (Buffalo Sabres)
Goal in the 15th off a Power and Quinn setup, plus stable defensive work.
Sean Kuraly (Boston Bruins)
Honor-saving goal in the 60th prevented a Bruins shutout.
Match Videos
Sabres vs. Bruins | NHL Playoff Highlights | Game 4 | April 26, 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the final score of Boston Bruins vs Buffalo Sabres Game 4?
Buffalo won 6-1 (0:4, 0:0, 1:2) at TD Garden.
Who scored for Buffalo?
Peyton Krebs (5th), Josh Doan (8th), Zach Benson (10th), Bowen Byram (15th), Beck Malenstyn (46th) and Alex Tuch (47th).
Who scored for Boston?
Sean Kuraly in the 60th minute off Andrew Peeke and Hampus Lindholm — the only Bruins goal.
What is the series score after Game 4?
Buffalo Sabres lead the Eastern Conference First Round series 3-1 and can clinch at home in Game 5.
When is Game 5?
Game 5 is scheduled for the night to Wednesday at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, where the Sabres can clinch.
Was it almost a Bruins shutout?
Almost — Boston conceded four goals in the first period and was held scoreless until the 60th minute, when Sean Kuraly broke up the shutout with the final-minute goal.
API data: 27 Apr 2026