David Pastrnak Scored in Overtime and the Bruins' Season Just Got a Second Life

Buffalo had the Bruins on the brink. One more loss and Boston's season was done. Then David Pastrnak broke free on a breakaway at 9:14 of overtime, buried it past Alex Lyon, and forced this first-round series back to Boston for Game 6 on Friday. Final score: 2-1. The Bruins are still alive.

This wasn't some blowout comeback. This was a gutsy, tight playoff battle where one moment changed everything. Jeremy Swayman had just made a massive stop on Alex Tuch less than two minutes before Pastrnak's winner, and that save proved to be the difference. Hampus Lindholm fed Pastrnak the long pass as he strode over the blue line, and Pastrnak did the rest, sliding it home to keep Boston's season breathing. Swayman finished with 25 saves, including five crucial ones in overtime, to earn his team this reprieve.

Buffalo Did Everything Right Until They Didn't

The Sabres actually looked like the team ready to move on. They scored first, thanks to a power play goal from Rasmus Dahlin at 3:35 of the first period. That goal snapped a brutal 0-for-17 drought on the power play to start this series. Mark Kastelic's roughing call just 2:11 in set up Jason Zucker's feed to Dahlin, and the Sabres had momentum.

Buffalo was disciplined all night. They blocked 11 shots during 5-on-5 play in the first alone. Alex Lyon stopped 27 shots for the Sabres, who are still hunting their first playoff series win since 2007. But in a Game 5 at home, where you need to close it out, one mistake in overtime cost them everything.

Elias Lindholm Tied It Up When Boston Needed It Most

The Bruins didn't panic after falling behind. At 9:24 of the second period, Elias Lindholm made a great individual effort, cutting to the front on Morgan Geekie's pass and scoring a second-effort turnaround shot from the slot. That tied it 1-1, and suddenly the momentum had shifted.

Jeremy Swayman was incredible in the third, making a huge post-to-post save on Tage Thompson's redirection at the right post early in the period. When a major Buffalo flurry came with just 2:20 left in regulation, sparked by Jordan Greenway and continued by Tyson Kozak's backhand from the wing, Swayman stopped it all. That's playoff goaltending when your team is one loss from elimination.

Boston has now won two of the three games in Buffalo, and Game 6 is Friday back home. The Bruins aren't dead. Pastrnak made sure of that.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.