The Boston Bruins suffered yet another gut-wrenching collapse on Sunday night. That collapse came at the hands of the Buffalo Sabres, who beat them 6-3 at KeyBank Center. What started as a promising first period quickly fell apart. Boston took that early lead and then just… gave it up. Six unanswered goals later, the Bruins were reeling. That was the 14th time this season they’d allowed six or more goals in a game. That tells you all you need to know about their ongoing defensive struggles—and their inability to keep that momentum going.
A Promising Start Turns Sour
Boston came out firing in the first period, scoring twice to set the tone. But the Sabres just wouldn’t let up. They flipped the script entirely in the second and third periods.
“We just weren’t good enough in the second,” Elias Lindholm said after the game. “And in the third, we were just soft.” He summed it up pretty well. “It’s not good enough. That’s it. We’ve been pretty bad in the second period. Usually we get off to a good start and then fall apart a little bit in the second. It’s tough to win games when that happens.”
That inability to sustain that first-period momentum has become a real issue for the Bruins. Opponents have been capitalizing on that weakness all season. They turn early deficits into late-game rallies that leave Boston chasing the scoreboard.
Third-Period Collapse Seals the Loss
Third-period collapse seals the loss—and the Bruins’ hopes. Interim head coach Joe Sacco acknowledged the team’s struggles, but he also knows mental toughness is what separates winners from losers in those high-pressure situations.
“We didn’t like giving up that two-goal lead in the second period. Being tied at 3-3 going into the third on the road—well, that’s not a bad spot to be in. Even if you didn’t have a good second period. And then in the third, it’s just about staying focused and keeping the game in front of you,” Sacco said.
Fatigue and bad decision-making really caught up with the Bruins in that final frame. Breakaways and defensive lapses just snowballed—and Joonas Korpisalo was back out there for an empty-netter in the final seconds.
Korpisalo’s Struggles Continue
Korpisalo faced 36 shots from the Sabres. He let in five goals. Over his last two games, that’s 11 goals he’s surrendered. His save percentage against Buffalo this season is now .895.
“That was a back-to-back for both teams,” Korpisalo said, “and I think in the second period we spent a lot of time in our own zone. I don’t know what to say about that.” Despite that tough outing, Korpisalo remains a key part of Boston’s lineup as they navigate the final stretch of this disappointing season.
Silver Linings in the Dark Clouds
While the Bruins’ defense was a mess, there were a few bright spots. Center Morgan Geekie extended his point streak to 7 games, scoring his 5th goal in that span. He also had 8 assists and 3 power play points in that stretch, showing off his offense.
On the other side, Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is still Boston’s kryptonite, finishing the season 3-0-0 with a .897 save percentage. He made 17 saves Sunday night.
Playoff Hopes All But Gone
With Sunday’s loss, the Bruins are 31-38-9 and 11-12-1 in their last 24 games. They have 4 games left and playoff hopes are all but gone.
The Bruins will try to regroup Tuesday night against the New Jersey Devils at Prudential Center. Puck drop is 7 p.m. , pregame coverage starts at 6 p.m. on NESN+.