Boston Bruins Rally For Shoot-out Win Over The Buffalo Sabres

Another home game at First Niagara Center and once again Buffalo Sabres fans leave the building shaking their heads.  The Sabres 3-2 shoot-out loss to the Boston Bruins Thursday night is the Sabres' eighth loss in their last nine games at home, and with 18 losses in 27 games at FNC the Sabres have by far the worst home record in the league.

The Sabres got off to a great start by building a 2-0 lead on goals by Evander Kane in the first period and Sam Reinhart early in the second.  Boston chipped away with a goal just a minute after Reinhart's goal and a backhand shot that tied it in the third; a goal that Sabres goaltender Chad Johnson would love to have back.

The game remained tied thru the end of regulation and overtime to set up a shootout where the first Boston player scored and none of the three Buffalo players were able to find the back of the net.  Sabres coach Dan Balsyma went with Brian Gionta, Evander Kane and Ryan O'Reilly making the fans wonder why not give Jack Eichel and/or Sam Reinhart the nod?  They're only the team's second and third-leading goal scorers.

Buffalo's strategy in games that go to a shoot-out clearly is not working.  They've lost four in a row.  So why not give the young players a chance to grow?

The Sabres and Bruins go at it again on Saturday night in Boston.