Bruins close out historic year against streaking Sabres

The NHL-leading Boston Bruins search for another win earlier than closing the curtain on the calendar 12 months once they host the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday afternoon.

Boston (28-4-3) is 7-0-2 in its final 9 video games, and can end the 2022 portion of its schedule with out struggling consecutive losses after bouncing again from Tuesday’s shootout setback in Ottawa to defeat New Jersey 3-1 the following evening.

One staff’s streak might be spoiled, as Buffalo is within the midst of its personal five-game successful streak.

Wednesday evening was not Boston’s finest, however the Bruins discovered a approach.

Goaltender Linus Ullmark wanted to make 16 of his 30 saves within the first interval, and captain Patrice Bergeron scored the game-winning objective with 4:09 remaining.

“(Ullmark) was spectacular. We weren’t,” coach Jim Montgomery stated after Boston’s second win at New Jersey in lower than every week. “To get three of 4 factors on this journey proper after Christmas, it speaks volumes concerning the character of the staff.”

Ullmark improved to 20-1-1, matching Tampa Bay’s Andrei Vasilevskiy (2020-21) and Ottawa’s Andrew Hammond (2014-15) for the second-fewest video games to twenty wins in a season.

His 39 wins in 2022 tied Tuukka Rask for probably the most ever by a Bruins goalie in a calendar 12 months.

Bergeron has been on a latest run, scoring 4 objectives in his final 5 video games. His 77 profession game-winning tallies are tied for second-most in staff historical past.

“There’s not sufficient phrases to explain him,” Montgomery stated. “Not everybody goes to these arduous areas. … That’s why he scored, that’s why he has 1,000 factors, and that’s why he’s our chief.”

Saturday marks the Bruins’ remaining sport earlier than shifting outdoors for Monday’s NHL Winter Traditional at Fenway Park, the second-ever installment hosted on the iconic Boston ballpark.

“When you deal with the method, the outcomes fall in line,” Bergeron stated. “For me, it’s all concerning the course of and particulars. That’s who we’re. … We (have) to pay attention and put the emphasis on particulars.”

Bruins ahead Tomas Nosek skated earlier than Friday’s follow however he’ll miss his second straight sport for upkeep.

The Sabres are within the midst of their longest win streak since a 10-game stretch in November 2018, although Saturday will mark simply their second outing after a 10-day break as a result of latest blizzard that hit Western New York.

Captain Kyle Okposo recorded a hat trick and Casey Mittelstadt added two objectives to guide Buffalo to Thursday’s 6-3 win over Detroit in entrance of a sellout crowd.

“What the group goes by, has simply gone by within the final 9 days that we’ve been off, is critical,” Sabres coach Don Granato stated. “To have a man like ‘Okie’ that loves (and lives full-time in) this group rating three I felt was applicable.”

Okposo is the third-ever Sabre to log a hat trick at age 34 or older and the primary since Corridor of Famer Gilbert Perreault in 1985-86.

The Sabres benefited from the return of defensemen Owen Energy, who had two assists, and Jacob Bryson. Every had missed three video games with a lower-body harm.

Buffalo scored 4 second-period objectives to run away to its newest victory, and now a back-to-back and three-in-four stretch awaits.

“It took a bit to hit a rhythm (on Thursday), so the best way they stayed with it was very good to see,” Granato stated.

–Subject Degree Media

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