After a 6-1 loss on Sunday, the Buffalo Sabers could be even stronger on Tuesday.

The Sabers have beaten the odds in their first-round playoff series against the Boston Bruins with a mix of momentum and growing injury concerns.

In Sunday’s decisive Game 4 victory, the Sabers recorded a dominant 6–1 victory.

However, the game came at a material cost. Forwards Tyson Kozak and Jason Zucker both left in the third period and did not return.

Head coach Lindy Ruff explained that the decision was precautionary. He said the team’s substantial lead allowed them to prioritize player health rather than pushing the injured duo back onto the ice.

“Just treat them and leave them in the dressing room, where the game was going on,” Ruff said after the game.

Additionally, forward Josh Norris missed his second consecutive game due to an undisclosed injury. Ruff confirmed that Norris remains day-to-day, a status that keeps him questionable for upcoming competitions.

current injury report

• Josh Norris, F (undeclared): Out April 21st. Missed Games 3 and 4 of the series; day to day.
• Sam Carrick, F (left wing): Out since March 31 after suffering an injury during a fight. Week-to-week and expected to miss the first round.

long term injuries

• Jiri Kulich, F (blood clot): Out November 1st. Originally projected to miss the season, he has resumed non-contact skating, but is still sidelined.
• Justin Danforth, F (lower body): Out since October 15 due to knee injury. Due to persistent pain after surgery, recovery is continued by skating intermittently.

These absences test the Sabres’ depth as they struggle for series control.

Despite some injuries, the Sabres’ resiliency has been surprising. They are relying on strong performance from goaltender Alex Lyons and emerging key contributors from rookie forward Noah Ostlund.

The series moved 3–1 in favor of the Sabers to Buffalo for Game 5. If home ice wasn’t enough to put the nail in Boston’s coffin, perhaps the return of Norris and avoiding the worst with Zucker and Kozak is.

James is the fully certified New Jersey Devils beat reporter for New Jersey Hockey Now on SportsNote and … More about James Nicholls

Forget the wagon. The Buffalo Sabers are a freight train.

In Game 4 of their first-round playoff matchup at TD Garden, the Sabers posted a dominant 6–1 victory over the Boston Bruins to take a 3–1 series lead.

Buffalo scored four goals in the first period to take an unassailable 4–0 lead and defeated Boston 19–5.

Peyton Krebs opened the scoring at 15:43 on an assist from Alex Tuch in his second match of the playoffs. Josh Doane and Zack Benson quickly followed, with Doane scoring his first goal – assisted by Ryan McLeod and Bowen Byram – and Benson capitalizing on a Doane feed.

Byram ended the first period barrage at 5:36 with his third goal of the playoffs, set up by Owen Power and Jack Quinn.

Boston came out strongly in the second period, defeating the Sabers 10–4, but Alex Lyon stood tall in net for Buffalo, turning away every chance to preserve the shutout for 40 minutes.

The Sabers took the lead on the Bruins in the third period, when Beck Malensteen and Tuch scored Buffalo’s fifth and sixth goals a little more than a minute apart to increase the lead to 6–0.

Lyon nearly recorded a shutout before Sean Kuraly scored with 40 seconds remaining to make the game 6–1.

Tempers boiled over with a barrage of penalties in the final minutes: minor deductions on Benson and Hampus Lindholm, a heated exchange between David Pastrnak and Krebs.

But Nikita Zadorov showed the least composure, charged with a game misconduct and receiving a five-minute penalty for cross-checking Rasmus Dahlin.

Boston finished with 42 hits to Buffalo’s 23, but could not convert its physical advantage on offense.

Lyon earned first-star honors with 23 saves on 24 shots (.958 SV%). Byram and Tuch (each with a goal and an assist) were rounded out with three stars.

The Sabers and Bruins head back to Boston for Game 5, where Buffalo has a chance to advance to the second round of the playoffs for the first time since 2007.

James is the fully certified New Jersey Devils beat reporter for New Jersey Hockey Now on SportsNote and … More about James Nicholls

Get back on the wagon. The Buffalo Sabers know how to counter-attack.

The Sabers won 3–1 over the Boston Bruins at TD Garden in Game 3, taking a 2–1 lead in their first-round playoff series.

After the loss of Ukka Pekka-Luukkonen in Game 2, Lindy Ruff chose goaltender Alex Lyon – who was excellent. Lyon turned down 24 of 25 shots for a .960 save percentage, while the Sabers effectively controlled the game despite a scoreless first period.

Boston had its first bloody play early in the second period when Tanner Jeannott headed past Lyon at 3:26 on an assist from Charlie McAvoy to take a 1–0 lead.

However, the Sabers responded quickly. Bowen Byram tied it 1-1 at 10:58 of the second minute with a wrist shot set up by Noah Ostlund and Owen Power. Buffalo outshot Boston 8–6 in the period and carried the momentum into halftime.

The third period was that of the visitors. Alex Tuch (one of the game’s three stars) gave Buffalo its first lead at 4:03, making snap shots past Peyton Krebs and Byram for a 2–1 lead.

The Sabers played hard defensively and limited Boston’s chances, with Lyon making several key stops. Noah Ostlund—who was making his Stanley Cup playoff debut in place of the injured Josh Norris—sealed the win with an empty-netter at 18:36 off an assist from Jack Quinn, making the score 3–1.

Buffalo scored with 28 shots to Boston’s 25. Neither team converted on the power play (0-for-5 for BUF, 0-for-4 for BOS), but the Sabers were more disciplined overall and won key faceoffs (51% to 49%). The physical game began late on with several scuffles and cross-checking penalties after the whistle in the final minutes.

The Sabers and Bruins will get some rest here, next up for Game 4 on Sunday at 2:00 p.m.

James is the fully certified New Jersey Devils beat reporter for New Jersey Hockey Now on SportsNote and … More about James Nicholls

The Buffalo Sabers swept the Boston Bruins in their victory in Game One. However, B could not be caught sleeping twice.

The Bruins earned a 4-2 win over the Sabers at KeyBank Center on Tuesday night, tying the best-of-seven series at 1-1 on the evening. After being held scoreless in the first period, Boston scored three goals in the second and another in the third before a late push by Buffalo.

Victor Arvidsson opened the scoring with a backhand shot at 4:54 of the second period, assisted by Jonathan Espirot and Casey Mittelstaedt. Morgan Geikie made it 2-0 on a backhand assist from David Pastrnak and Sean Kuraly at 16:29 of the second. Pavel Zacha scored a power-play goal at 18:10 (assists: Pastrnak and Charlie McAvoy) to give Boston a 3–0 lead in the third.

Arvidsson scored his second goal just 16 seconds into the third period – on assists from Espirot and McEvoy – increasing the lead to 4–0.

Sabers coach Lindy Ruff opted to pull goaltender Ukko Pekka Luukkonen after surrendering four goals after 40:16 of the game. Alex Lyon manned the Buffalo net for the remainder of the tilt, and made seven saves on seven shots in relief.

The Sabers responded late, with Bowen Byram and Peyton Krebs scoring in the final frame to make the score 4–2. A flurry of harsh penalties and misconducts occurred in the third, including a fight between Mark Kastelic and Logan Stanley, which increased the tension.

sabers pulled

Final shots were Boston 26, Buffalo 21. Jeremy Swayman got the win in net for Boston with strong play after the first period, while Buffalo’s goaltenders faced heavy pressure. Boston went 1 of 6 on the power play; Buffalo was 0 for 5.

The Bruins’ timely scoring and defensive structure in the first 40 minutes proved decisive, although Buffalo showed late fight. Game three moves to Boston on Thursday.

James is the fully certified New Jersey Devils beat reporter for New Jersey Hockey Now on SportsNote and … More about James Nicholls

In the Carolina Hurricanes’ final game at Lenovo Center of the regular season, they delighted their fans as they defeated the Boston Bruins (and the referees) with a 6–5 overtime victory to capture the Metropolitan Division.

As the game began, Eric Robinson was taken out of the lineup in favor of Nicolas Deslauriers, but the Hurricanes appeared a bit disjointed defensively. Head coach Rod Brind’Amour had put the defensive lines into the old blender, pairing Jakob Slavin with Shayne Gostisbeer, K’Andre Miller with Jalen Chatfield, and Alexander Nikishin with Sean Walker. It was a rare opportunity for Nikishin to play to his natural side, and ultimately it was the only pair to remain unbeaten in the following frames.

With the Bruins’ first shot of the game, Hampus Lindholm found the back of the net. However, the lead was short-lived as the Hurricanes scored twice in 1:34 – one by Andrei Svechnikov, who scored his 30th goal of the season, matching his career high, and one by K’Andre Miller.

Goaltender interference: Disappointed, but not surprised

Shortly thereafter, Morgan Geikie tied the game, and before the period ended, Geikie scored his second of the game. However, the second goal was strange for the former Hurricane. As the puck was turned in by goaltender Brandon Bussey, it appeared that David Pastrnak had collided with him making contact inside his crease.

Brind’Amour took time to review the play before deciding to challenge it for goaltender interference, but it ultimately remained on the boards. The official ruling from the NHL on the play was that Pastrnak’s contact had no impact on Bussey’s ability to play his position.

…I disagree, but it is what it is – and it’s not surprising that the Hurricanes were betrayed by the goalie interference decision.

In the final seconds of the frame, the Hurricanes got a power play with literal goaltender interference, as Mark Kastelic got a pass on Bussy and knocked him down. This prevented a power play goal in the second period, but that was…ironic.

The storm ends Swayman’s streak and his night among the pipes

However, the Hurricanes got a boost in the second period, as they managed to score three goals in less than 10 minutes – a power play goal from Logan Stankoven, a goal from William Carrier, and a goal from former Bruin Taylor Hall. The scoring explosion led to a goaltender swap for the Boston Bruins as Joonas Korpisalo came in to relieve Jeremy Swayman. Heading into the game, Swayman had won nine straight games while allowing three or fewer goals.

Then, the hits started coming for the Hurricanes. And they came through hard work.

With a little more than a minute remaining in the second period, Geikie scored another goal – bringing the game to within a minute, scoring the second hat trick of his career, and the first in the building he once called home.

Less than thirty seconds later, 5’10” Seth Jarvis hit the corner boards after a big hit from 6’7” Nikita Zadorov. Head athletic trainer Doug Bennett came onto the ice to assist the Hurricanes’ leading goalscorer, but after a moment, he was able to leave for the locker room under his own power.

The Hurricanes’ bruiser, Nicolas Deslauriers, was not a fan of the hit and began squabbling with the Bruins’ defenseman, but it failed to generate a fight in the third frame. Deslauriers earned a single shift in the third period, which overlapped with Zadorov’s shift, but did not generate a fight.

Hurricanes compete with eternal rival, referee in third period

While Jarvis returned to the ice at the beginning of the third period, the Hurricanes lost Chatfield, who had returned to the top pairing after the first period, due to a lower body injury.

A little more than halfway through the period, Stankoven took a high-stick into the back of the Bruins’ net, leaving him bloodied. At first, it was believed that it was friendly fire from classmate Jackson Blake, but it was soon revealed that it was from Charlie McAvoy.

Whenever an injury occurs during a game and is not immediately called, a penalty may still be awarded after footage has been viewed. The Hurricanes presented their side, but the referee still failed to make a decision.

Less than 20 seconds later, Pavel Zacha tied the game with a feed from McEvoy.

As if that wasn’t bad enough, Jordan Martinook was later sent to the penalty box for interference on Jonathan Espirot, who ran into the Hurricanes winger, who was stationary at the blue line to stay onside.

The Hurricanes killed penalties, and neither team managed to get on the string again in regulation, which soon led to overtime, giving both teams a point in the standings – just what the Hurricanes needed to clinch the Metro Division.

An overtime goal worth remembering

With 3:47 remaining in the extra frame, Jakob Slavin scored his first goal of the season, topping a spectacular sequence of playmaking from Svechnikov and Sebastian Aho as he put it in with a backdoor snapshot.

With the win on the night and the division, the Hurricanes swept the final Storm Surge of the season. Slavin was pushed to center ice for a group hug, and his helmet was grabbed by Nikishin and paraded over the end of Svechnikov’s stick.

Tradition means a lot to Raleigh, and the Hurricanes made sure their fans got another taste of it with a full celebration after the game.

(PSST, if you want to see the Bruins’ perspective on the game, be sure to check out Jack Studley’s article on Boston Hockey Now!)

Rachel Barkley is a beat writer covering the Carolina Hurricanes for Carolina Hockey Now on SportsNote. Painting Stories…More About Rachel Barclay

In the Carolina Hurricanes’ final game at Lenovo Center of the regular season, they delighted their fans as they defeated the Boston Bruins (and the referees) with a 6–5 overtime victory to capture the Metropolitan Division.

As the game began, Eric Robinson was taken out of the lineup in favor of Nicolas Deslauriers, but the Hurricanes appeared a bit disjointed defensively. Head coach Rod Brind’Amour had put the defensive lines into the old blender, pairing Jakob Slavin with Shayne Gostisbeer, K’Andre Miller with Jalen Chatfield, and Alexander Nikishin with Sean Walker. It was a rare opportunity for Nikishin to play to his natural side, and ultimately it was the only pair to remain unbeaten in the following frames.

With the Bruins’ first shot of the game, Hampus Lindholm found the back of the net. However, the lead was short-lived as the Hurricanes scored twice in 1:34 – one by Andrei Svechnikov, who scored his 30th goal of the season, matching his career high, and one by K’Andre Miller.

Goaltender interference: Disappointed, but not surprised

Shortly thereafter, Morgan Geikie tied the game, and before the period ended, Geikie scored his second of the game. However, the second goal was strange for the former Hurricane. As the puck was turned in by goaltender Brandon Bussey, it appeared that David Pastrnak had collided with him making contact inside his crease.

Brind’Amour took time to review the play before deciding to challenge it for goaltender interference, but it ultimately remained on the boards. The official ruling from the NHL on the play was that Pastrnak’s contact had no impact on Bussey’s ability to play his position.

…I disagree, but it is what it is – and it’s not surprising that the Hurricanes were betrayed by the goalie interference decision.

In the final seconds of the frame, the Hurricanes got a power play with literal goaltender interference, as Mark Kastelic got a pass on Bussy and knocked him down. This prevented a power play goal in the second period, but that was…ironic.

The storm ends Swayman’s streak and his night among the pipes

However, the Hurricanes got a boost in the second period, as they managed to score three goals in less than 10 minutes – a power play goal from Logan Stankoven, a goal from William Carrier, and a goal from former Bruin Taylor Hall. The scoring explosion led to a goaltender swap for the Boston Bruins as Joonas Korpisalo came in to relieve Jeremy Swayman. Heading into the game, Swayman had won nine straight games while allowing three or fewer goals.

Then, the hits started coming for the Hurricanes. And they came through hard work.

With a little more than a minute remaining in the second period, Geikie scored another goal – bringing the game to within a minute, scoring the second hat trick of his career, and the first in the building he once called home.

Less than thirty seconds later, 5’10” Seth Jarvis hit the corner boards after a big hit from 6’7” Nikita Zadorov. Head athletic trainer Doug Bennett came onto the ice to assist the Hurricanes’ leading goalscorer, but after a moment, he was able to leave for the locker room under his own power.

The Hurricanes’ bruiser, Nicolas Deslauriers, was not a fan of the hit and began squabbling with the Bruins’ defenseman, but it failed to generate a fight in the third frame. Deslauriers earned a single shift in the third period, which overlapped with Zadorov’s shift, but did not generate a fight.

Hurricanes compete with eternal rival, referee in third period

While Jarvis returned to the ice at the beginning of the third period, the Hurricanes lost Chatfield, who had returned to the top pairing after the first period, due to a lower body injury.

A little more than halfway through the period, Stankoven took a high-stick into the back of the Bruins’ net, leaving him bloodied. At first, it was believed that it was friendly fire from classmate Jackson Blake, but it was soon revealed that it was from Charlie McAvoy.

Whenever an injury occurs during a game and is not immediately called, a penalty may still be awarded after footage has been viewed. The Hurricanes presented their side, but the referee still failed to make a decision.

Less than 20 seconds later, Pavel Zacha tied the game with a feed from McEvoy.

As if that wasn’t bad enough, Jordan Martinook was later sent to the penalty box for interference on Jonathan Espirot, who ran into the Hurricanes winger, who was stationary at the blue line to stay onside.

The Hurricanes killed penalties, and neither team managed to get on the string again in regulation, which soon led to overtime, giving both teams a point in the standings – just what the Hurricanes needed to clinch the Metro Division.

An overtime goal worth remembering

With 3:47 remaining in the extra frame, Jakob Slavin scored his first goal of the season, topping a spectacular sequence of playmaking from Svechnikov and Sebastian Aho as he put it in with a backdoor snapshot.

With the win on the night and the division, the Hurricanes swept the final Storm Surge of the season. Slavin was pushed to center ice for a group hug, and his helmet was grabbed by Nikishin and paraded over the end of Svechnikov’s stick.

Tradition means a lot to Raleigh, and the Hurricanes made sure their fans got another taste of it with a full celebration after the game.

(PSST, if you want to see the Bruins’ perspective on the game, be sure to check out Jack Studley’s article on Boston Hockey Now!)

Rachel Barkley is a beat writer covering the Carolina Hurricanes for Carolina Hockey Now on SportsNote. Painting Stories…More About Rachel Barclay

The Carolina Hurricanes welcome the Boston Bruins to Raleigh for the final home game of the season in what will be the final game of a tough road trip for the wild card-grabbing Bruins, who have picked up just one point in the three games played, scoring only one goal in each match.

The game, which will be Fan Appreciation Night at the Lenovo Center, is scheduled for 7:00 pm EDT.

However, the last game was a tough one in itself for the Hurricanes. Jordan Staal and Jordan Martinook were both absent for undisclosed reasons against the Ottawa Senators, leading to the return of Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Nicolas Deslauriers to the lineup.

The first period was fairly good, with twenty minutes of play ending with a tie, but things soon unraveled as the Hurricanes were unable to match the immediate level of the frustrated Ottawa team. Alas, at least Taylor Hall – who spent a little more than two seasons with the Bruins – scored his 300th career goal. You can read all about it here!

in the crease

For the Hurricanes, Brandon Bussey will be the likely starter due to the alternate tandem. It would be a reunion of sorts, potentially marking Busey’s first game against the team that signed him to his first NHL contract in 2022. He has a save percentage of .894 this season with a goals-against average of 2.46 in a 29-6-1 record.

Meanwhile, the Bruins are expected to turn to Jeremy Swayman to focus on the pipes after Joonas Korpisalo played his last game against the Philadelphia Flyers. Swayman has borne the brunt of the starts for Boston this season, appearing in 51 of the 78 games played so far. This season he has a save percentage of .907 with a goals-against average of 2.70 with a 30-17-4 record.

Expected Carolina Hurricane Lines

Andrei Svechnikov – Sebastian Aho – Seth Jarvis

Taylor Hall – Logan Stankoven – Jackson Blake

William Carrier – Mark Jankowski – Nikolaj Ehlers

Nicolas Deslauriers – Jespri Kotkaniemi – Eric Robinson

protect

Jacob Slavin – Jalen Chatfield

K’Andre Miller – Shawn Walker

Shayne Gostisbehere – Alexander Nikishin

goaltender

Brandon Bussey/Frederick Anderson

Expected Boston Bruins Lines

Morgan Geecki – Elias Lindholm – David Pastrnak

Casey Mittelstaedt – Pavel Zacha – Victor Arvidsson

Lucas Reichel – Fraser Minton – Marat Khusnutdinov

Tanner Jeannott – Shawn Kuraly – Mark Kastelic

protect

Jonathan Espirot – Charlie McAvoy

Hampus Lindholm – Mason Lohrei

Nikita Zadorov – Andrew Banks

goaltender

Jeremy Swayman / Joonas Korpisalo

special teams

Carolina Hurricanes Power Play: 24.7% (5th)
Carolina Hurricanes Penalty Kill: 80.1% (12th)

Boston Bruins Power Play: 23.7% (9th)
Boston Bruins Penalty Kill: 76.6% (26th)

storm game notes

With only four games remaining in the regular season, the Hurricanes will likely make roster adjustments to manage load in preparation for the playoffs. Until the puck drops, all lineups are mere guesses — but that’s especially true in upcoming sets of games.

In the previous game, Jordan Staal and Jordan Martinook were both ruled out of the starting lineup for undisclosed reasons, and their return remains uncertain.

how to see

TV: FanDuel Sports Network South
Streaming: ESPN+
Radio: 99.9 The Fan

Rachel Barkley is a beat writer covering the Carolina Hurricanes for Carolina Hockey Now on SportsNote. Painting Stories…More About Rachel Barclay

Paul Couture is the New Jersey Devils’ best player and they have a goaltender across from them.

Hosting the Boston Bruins at the Prudential Center, Cotter scored the overtime winner, which also capped a three assist night for Jack Hughes, a new record holder for the Devils.

Just four minutes into the first period, the Devils’ defense was caught sleeping and the Bruins made them pay.

Henri Jokiharju’s shot from the point was blocked by Jacob Markstrom. However, the puck bounced off David Pastrnak, who was standing at the net-front the entire time, collected the loose puck, and slid it between Markstrom’s five-hole to give the Bruins a 1–0 lead.

The Bruins dominated the puck throughout the first period. About four minutes after the Bruins’ goal, Brandon Dillon and Mark Kastelic dropped mitts after New Jersey created tension in front of the net. Each got five minutes of majors to fight.

Boston kept the pressure on New Jersey, and eventually doubled their lead when Pavel Zacha finished off a stray chance headed by Viktor Arvidsson to make the game 2–0.

The Devils got off to a fast start in the second period and scored within the first minute of puck drop. Jack forced a turnover on neutral territory and began moving toward the Boston area. The Devils star fed Connor Brown, who was already behind the Boughton defense, provoking him for a breakaway, and he lowered the blocker side to cut the Devils’ deficit to 2–1.

Jack’s primary assist set a Devils franchise record, as he is now the fastest player to reach 400 points for New Jersey, reaching the milestone in 414 games.

The Devils remained all-out in the middle frame as they tried to erase their first period deficit. New Jersey’s top line continued to give the Bruins defense headaches. With just over eight minutes gone in the period, the Jacks made a quick move up the ice, feeding Brown in the middle of the ice, who then passed the puck to Jesper Bratt for a one-time chance in the right circle to tie the game at 2–2.

Just three minutes into the third period the Devils immediately took a 3-2 lead. Maxim Tsyplyakov drove to the net with the puck on his backhand, and fired it into the slot for Paul Cotter who scored.

Still, Pastrnak responded immediately by pulling off a slick toe-up of his own, and slid the puck to Markstrom, who the Bruins forward knocked out of position to restore the tie at three.

There was a barrage of penalties between the Devils and Bruins, starting with Kastelic’s hard hit on Cotter. Bruins forward Johnathan Kovacevic stepped up to drop the gloves, forcing Kastelic to fight for the second time on Monday.

New Jersey then committed three minor penalties, and Boston was whistled for one. Still, neither team took advantage.

The Devils and Bruins needed overtime, and the exciting period almost turned into a shootout.

However, Jack collected a loose puck in the neutral zone and pushed it to Cotter, drawing a streak across the ice. On a breakaway, Cotter scored the overtime winner to solidify the Devils’ second win in as many games.

Markstrom stopped 19 pucks on 22 shots to earn his 20th win of the season.

James is the fully certified New Jersey Devils beat reporter for New Jersey Hockey Now on SportsNote and … More about James Nicholls

The Boston Bruins (37-23-6) were in the same position last year as the New Jersey Devils (33-31-2) are in right now.

Well, now look at Boston.

The Bruins are almost certainly postseason-bound a year after their perceived demise.

In other words, Devils fans, there is hope.

The Bruins are 5-3-2 in their last 10 games tonight. They are not contenders for the playoffs, but there is a possibility. They’ll have to play desperation hockey against the Devils – who are still a team skilled enough to pull off an upset.

Let’s dive into tonight’s matchup.

What to know vs. Bruins

– The Devils and Boston face off for the second of three meetings this season. New Jersey lost 4–1 at Boston on December 6, 2025.

—The two foes will next meet on April 14 in Boston, which marks New Jersey’s regular season finale.

2025-26 vs. Bruins

December 6 at Boston/L 1-4

March 16 7:00 PM ET Prudential Center

April 14 7:00 PM ET in Boston

devils vs bruins

All-time record: 61-92-19-10

All-time home record: 31-43-11-4

All-time road record: 30-49-8-6

Projected Devils Lineup*

Ahead

Timo Meyer – Nico Hischier – Dawson Mercer

Jasper Bratt – Jack Hughes – Connor Brown

Arseny Gritsyuk – Cody Glass – Lenny Haminaho

Paul Couture – Nick Bjugstad – Maxim Tsyplyakov

defenseman

Jonas Seigenthaler – Dougie Hamilton

Luke Hughes – Jonathan Kovacevic

Brendan Dillon – Simon Nemec

goaltender

jake allen

jacob markstrom

*Lineup is subject to change

Current Injuries: Jack McEwen (upper body, out for the season)

2025-26 Total man-games lost: 283

Projected Bruins Lineup*

Ahead

Morgan Geecki – Fraser Minton – David Pastrnak

Casey Mittelstaedt – Pavel Zacha – Victor Arvidsson

Marat Khunsutdinov – Elias Lindholm – Tanner Jeannott

Michael Issimont – Shawn Kuraly – Mark Kastelic

defenseman

Jonathan Espirot – Charlie McAvoy

Hampus Lindholm – Mason Lohrei

Nikita Zadorov – Andrew Banks

goaltender

jeremy swayman

joonas korpisalo

*Lineup is subject to change

Current Injuries: None.

How to watch the Devils game – 7:00 pm ET

Watch/Stream: ESPN

Radio: Devils Hockey Net

next up

Mon. March 16 vs BOS 7:00 PM
Wednesday, March 18, NYR at 7:00 PMET
Friday, March 20th WSH at 7:00 PMET
Tuesday, March 24 at 8:00 PM DAL
Thu, Mar 26 at 8:00pm NSH

James is the fully certified New Jersey Devils beat reporter for New Jersey Hockey Now on SportsNote and … More about James Nicholls

The Washington Capitals (33-27-8) played longer than necessary on Saturday afternoon. They hung with the Boston Bruins (37-23-6) but lost 3-2 in a shootout that lasted nine rounds.

The Capitals needed a win to stay tied with Boston for the second wild card spot in the Eastern Conference. Washington finished with one point, despite needing two points.

The Capitals blue line took a big step to keep hope alive. Matt Roy led the scoring, while Rasmus Sandin had a multi-point game.

However, Boston never trailed as Charlie McAvoy recorded two goals. But neither team was able to score on many power play opportunities.

The game required overtime and then a shootout, which lasted nine rounds. Despite the Capitals’ best efforts, Fraser Minton scored the game-winner for Boston.

Next, the Capitals continue their four-game homestand by hosting Ottawa on Wednesday.

capitals analysis

After a scoreless opening period, Roy scored to put the Capitals ahead 1–0 75 seconds into the middle frame. The 31-year-old blueliner fired an 86 MPH shot past Jeremy Swayman into the top corner.

Roy generally looked impressive on the ice. The defensemen moved the puck well, and made smart reads at both ends of the ice.

Sandin also played well and recorded an assist on Roy’s tally. The 26-year-old player then scored an own goal at the beginning of the third.

With the score tied at 1–1, Sandin made the score 2–1 with a knuckle puck from the point. The blueliner also showed impressive two-way play and grabbed four blocks.

However, Boston’s blue line came through thanks to two goals from McAvoy. The Olympic gold medalist hit a point shot to equalize in the second, then deflected a shot to make it 2-2.

With the score tied late, the Capitals had two power play opportunities to try to take the lead. Unfortunately, the team’s problems continued on the man advantage.

Things got worse when Connor McMichael took a late penalty and the Capitals were shorthanded with more than a minute remaining. Thankfully, Boston did not score while their power play extended to OT.

The capital penalty kill intensified early in this period. Tom Wilson and Anthony Beauvillier were both in the box, but the team successfully killed 39 seconds of 5-on-3.

Despite the loss, Logan Thompson put in a remarkable performance, stopping 32 of 34 shots on net. He also made eight saves in the skills competition.

capitals report card

Team: B-

The Capitals tried their best to keep the game competitive in regulation, overtime and the shootout. Sadly, he could not win.

Rasmus Sandin: A+

Sandin had a multi-point day with a goal and an assist. The blueliner got a lot of good looks and got high-danger chances while also playing well on defense.

Matt Roy: A

Roy opened the scoring 75 seconds into the second period. He recorded his first goal since on November 17 versus Los Angeles.

Capitals Special Teams: C+

The Capitals’ power play once again struggled and their score became 0-3. However, the penalty kill was much better, including a 5-on-3 in the third.

Logan Thompson: B

Thompson made 32 saves in the loss. The netminder also stopped eight shots in the shootout.

Harry Lichtman is an award-winning journalist who covers the Washington Capitals for SportsNut. He also contributes to the sites… More about Harry Lichtman

The Boston Bruins are looking for some upgrades ahead of the 2026 NHL trade deadline. Boston holds the final wild card spot in the Eastern Conference with 71 points. However, the Bruins have several needs, such as a top-4 right-shot defenseman and options to improve their blue line and offensive depth.

Below, we’ll break down the five best trade targets for Boston ahead of the 2026 NHL trade deadline!

Robert Thomas, St. Louis Blues

Robert Thomas would give Boston an incredible update at the center position. With prospects like Mathieu Poitras and Dean Letourneau, the St. Louis Blues will be able to get the breakthrough they are looking for with Thomas. That would be a steep price, but the Blues center would look good in Bruins colors.

Connor Garland, Vancouver Canucks

Connor Garland will give Boston more offensive depth moving forward. The Vancouver Canucks are the worst team in the NHL and are set to trade most of their roster. Attack isn’t as big a need as defence, but the Canucks forward would be a great addition moving forward.

Colton Parayko, St. Louis Blues

Colton Parayko is an ideal target for the Bruins before Friday’s deadline. Boston needs a top-4 right-shot defenseman, and Parayko would be an excellent replacement for former Bruin Brandon Carlo. The St. Louis defenseman is estimated to have a lot of suitors, but the price would be reasonable.

McKenzie Weegar, Calgary Flames

McKenzie Weegar would be a great pick this season, but there are some negative factors in the future. Weegar is 32 years old and is under contract for the 2030-31 season with a $6.25 million cap hit. The Calgary Flames defenseman is good enough to anchor the Bruins’ defence, and although his play may decline in the coming years, this would be a multi-year solution.

Justin Faulk, St. Louis Blues

Justin Faulk continues the trend of strong St. Louis options for Boston ahead of the NHL trade deadline. Faulk has a strong 2025-26 NHL season, providing strong offense and defense. The Blues defenseman is arguably the best option for the Bruins, and can take this team to the next level moving forward.

READ MORE: St. Louis Blues could trade Robert Thomas, 5 best landing spots including Boston Bruins

Austin Konensky is a sports writer at SportsNut, covering the NHL, MLB, NFL, NBA and college football. His work…More about Austin Konensky