The Bruins secured a dramatic 2-1 overtime victory, ensuring a Game 6 at TD Garden. Players expressed their commitment to fans, vowing to fight until the end and improve on their previous home loss.
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David Pastrnak said Game 4 was weighing on the Bruins players.
In addition to all the obvious reasons for wanting to win Game 5, they didnât want Sundayâs 6-1 embarrassing loss to the Sabres to be the final impression they left on their home crowd this season.
So after he scored the game-winning goal in overtime to give the Bruins a 2-1 win that ensured theyâd return for Game 6 at TD Garden on Friday, he thought of the fans.
âThat was our focus to get the game back to Boston to show our fans weâre not going to quit. We never quit,â he told NESNâs Adam Pellerin after the game. âWe love each other. Weâre going to battle until the last drop. We donât know what happened last game at home, but we wanted to bring it back. ... We have a big game to play in front of our fans. Happy weâre going back.â
Pastrnak had a message and a request for those fans, whoâll be at the game which starts at 7:30 p.m.
âJust be loud, please, and be patient,â Pastrnak said, seemingly referencing fans, who implore them to get shots off more. âWeâre gonna shoot the puck, donât worry.â
Hampus Lindholm had a promise of his own
âItâs going to be a different Boston Bruins at home here the next game. Weâre going to keep playing this type of hockey and make it hard on them,â he said. âWeâre going to keep playing like weâve been playing at home. We have the best fans in the league. Itâs going to be real tough for Buffalo to close out the series. Weâre going to make it hard on them.â
NEWCOMERS REWARD STURMâS FAITH âWith his season on the line, Marco Sturm turned to three players who not only hadnât played in the postseason, but had barely played in April.
Bruins players promised Boston fans that they would not quit and would battle until the last drop in the upcoming Game 6.
The Bruins suffered an embarrassing 6-1 loss to the Sabres in Game 4, which weighed heavily on the team.
David Pastrnak scored the game-winning goal in overtime for the Bruins, leading to their 2-1 victory.
Game 6 for the Bruins is scheduled to take place on Friday at TD Garden.
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Mikey Eyssimont (four), Alex Steeves and Henri Jokiharju (two each) had played a combined eight games this month, before the Bruins coach tabbed them to be part of a season-saving effort.
It could have been risky. Only Eyssimont had ever played in the postseason before, but all three delivered solid efforts.
Eyssimont and Steeves played first with Elias Lindholm and then Fraser Minten between them on the third line. They were both physical and aggressive.
Jokiharju was solid alongside Hampus Lindholm in defense.
âJoki did a good job today. Really good. He didnât play for a while,â Sturm said. âIt wasnât easy for him to come in like that. He kept it really simple.â
SABRES PESSIMISTIC ON INJURY â Noah Ostlund, whose return from injury sparked the Sabres early in the series, suffered a leg injury when Casey Mittelstadt appeared to fall on his leg in the first period.
Sabres coach Lindy Ruff wasnât optimistic.
âThe fact he couldnât come back. He came back and tried,â he said. âIt doesnât look good.â
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