The Boston Bruins’ season has ended in heartache for New England ice diehards who’d prayed for an 11th hour comeback.
The Bees lost 4-1 Friday to the Buffalo Sabres in game six of the first-round playoff series at TD Garden, Buffalo having taken the series four games to two.
The Sabres took a 2-0 advantage in the first period and never lost their edge as they held Boston to just one goal when it was all over.
“It’s tough, a missed opportunity, obviously,” Nikita Zadorov told BostonBruins.com. “With the group we had, the belief we have in this room, and the season we had. To finish like that sucks. It really does.”
The Buffalo win advances the team to the second round for the first time in nearly two decades.
David Pastrnak scored the only goal for Boston, while Alex Tuch, Mattias Samuelsson, Zach Benson, and Josh Norris scored for Buffalo.
Despite a strong regular season, the Bruins lost all three home games in the series.
The Sabres advanced to the second round for the first time since 2007.
For the Bruins, the loss “caps off a year of highs and lows for a team that challenged expectations and came together under first-year head coach Marco Sturm,” according to Belle Fraser of BostonBruins.com.
“Why do we feel the pressure? Because we care,” Sturm said.
The game was especially memorable for the late ejection of Boston defenseman Charlie McAvoy for a violent slash on forward Zach Benson, ESPN reported.
With 1:31 left in the game and the Sabres leading 4-1, Boston’s net was empty for an extra skater. As McAvoy skated back for an icing call, Benson tripped him with his left leg, sending McAvoy crashing into the end boards.
McAvoy got up, skated over through his teammates and delivered a two-handed slash across Benson’s torso.
“You don’t want to see a guy take a chop like that at somebody else,” Buffalo coach Lindy Ruff said.
The Bruins defenseman received a five-minute major and automatic game misconduct, while Benson got away with a minor two-minute penalty for tripping.
The infraction could draw supplemental discipline from the NHL, according to ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski.
ESPN’s Emily Kaplan reported late Saturday that McAvoy is in big trouble for his outburst – starting next season facing a possible six-game suspension.
McAvoy has been offered a hearing before an NHL personnel board to defend himself, Kaplan said.
Sloppy play in their own end cost them. Swayman was left unprotected to much. Not a bad season overall, now we can get ready for next season.
who cares
not Losing any sleep over this