BOSTON – The Boston Bruins play a home playoff game today.
Sabres fans waited almost 15 years; Bruins fans will not even have to wait two. However, the team looks a little different. Players like Nikita Zadorov, Tanner Jeannot, Elias Lindholm, and Viktor Arvidsson have not played a home playoff game with the Bruins.
They had a lot of success on home ice this season, and the team was really looking forward to getting back to Boston.
They also extended a defenseman from Hanson yesterday.
Around the league, there were three playoff games last night, and one of them went into 2 OT. One of the games also featured a controversial call, and I would not have predicted this series to be 3-0 in the direction that it is in.
Connor McDavid has been held off the scoresheet by Joel Quenneville and the Ducks, who skated to their first playoff win in nine years.
Happy Thursday, catch up on Bruins and league news in today’s Daily Bean:
GAMEDAY: The Boston Bruins (1-1) are back on home ice to take on the Buffalo Sabres (1-1) tonight. The Bruins are coming off a 4-2 win where they evened the series on the road, and now they have three home games remaining.
SWAYMAN: Jeremy Swayman is an important piece to this series, but he is also an important voice in the locker room. We all saw his timeout call in Game 2, and though Marco Sturm said he did not see it, he was very happy Swayman’s mind was in the right spot.
Also, Nikita Zadorov sent a warning to any Sabres players who are interested in taking whacks at Swayman.
SWEEZEY: Don Sweeney signed Billy Sweezey to a one-year extension yesterday with an NHL cap hit of $850,000. The Hanson, MA, native wears the Alternate Captain’s ‘A’ with the Providence Bruins, and he finished the AHL regular season with 17 points (1-16–17), a plus-21 rating, and 84 penalty minutes.
The #NHLBruins have signed defenseman Billy Sweezey to a one-year, two-way contract extension through the 2026-27 season with an NHL cap hit of $850,000.📰: https://t.co/DOq0mBKEZS pic.twitter.com/9s0wQ1Vvv6
Philly Hockey Now: The Flyers are one win away from the second round. They beat the Penguins 5-2 last night, led by a three-goal second period. It was the first playoff game in Philadelphia since 2018. Will James has more from last night’s game.
Pittsburgh Hockey Now: The Penguins are one loss away from their season ending. In the Stanley Cup Final two years ago, Stuart Skinner was on the Oilers when they went down 3-0. Dan Kingerski has more from the Penguins locker room.
TSN: Sidney Crosby took an embellishing minor yesterday, and it caused some debate. It was the first time in Crosby’s 21-year career that he had been booked for embellishment, and Penguins coach Dan Muse was not too happy. Crosby is focused on winning the next game.
ESPN: The Stars and Wild met for Game 3 in St. Paul last night, and instead of a 6-1 or 4-2 game, this one needed two overtimes. The Stars jumped to a 2-0 lead before the Wild scored three straight. Matt Duchene tied the game for Dallas at the 10:18 mark of the third.
NHL (video via YouTube): Wyatt Johnston won the game in 2 OT last night. He redirected Miro Heiskanen’s shot by Jesper Wallstedt and gave the Stars a 2-1 series lead.
Sportsnet: The Anaheim Ducks have won their first playoff game since 2017. They beat the Oilers 6-4 last night in Edmonton, helped by a three-point night from Cutter Gauthier and Alex Killorn.
Connor McDavid does not have a point in the series.
Sabres at Bruins, Game 3 – 7:00 PM (US: NESN, TNT, HBO; CA: SN360, TVA 2)