Let’s start with the obvious. This wasn’t going to be a sweep. No matter how good the vibes were after game one, this was going to take more than four games to settle. Now, the series goes back to Boston at 1-1 after the Bruins cruised to a 4-2 win in game two. 

It was the Bruins turn to be the imposing team after the Sabres were the better side in game one. Boston choked out Buffalo in transition and eliminated the forecheck that allowed the Sabres to maintain an impressive level of pressure in game one. The Sabres played a role in that as well, exhibiting a level of sloppiness in possession that was absent on Sunday. But the Bruins deserve credit for countering what made the Sabres so impressive in game one and exerting control for large portions of the game. David Pastrnak picked up two more points along the way. That’s two multi-point efforts for the Bruins’ star and five points total in the series. He’s been a difference maker. 

Score effects will make Buffalo’s shot totals look favorable, but they were held in check for most of the opening 40 minutes. A good encapsulation of Buffalo’s struggles to generate looks came in the second period. Opening on the power play, the Sabres registered a shot 39 seconds in courtesy of Tage Thompson. Buffalo’s next shot didn’t come until the 10:34 mark (also a Tage Thompson attempt on the power play). The two shots from Thompson were the only two of the period to come from inside 10 feet. Buffalo’s other six shots came from 36 feet or further away. 

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