Boston netminder Jeremy Swayman finished with 21 saves, and Pavel Zacha, Mark Kastelic, and Sean Kuraly all scored. Their efforts led the Boston Bruins to a 3-1 victory over the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday night, extending their season-opening winning streak to three games.

Jason Zucker scored the lone goal for Buffalo while goalie Alex Lyon made 28 saves in his second straight loss to start the season. Zacha’s first goal of the season came on a one-timer after Boston’s Jordan Harris led a rush with 4:12 remaining in the first period.

Despite playing without their top-line center, Josh Norris, who is out indefinitely due to an upper-body injury sustained during Buffalo’s opener, the Sabres did manage to show some resilience. They limited the Bruins’ opportunities, allowing just one shot on Swayman during the first period.

Boston extended their lead to two goals in the second period. Kastelic’s goal, a deflection off Buffalo defenseman Conor Timmins, was the result of a well-executed play. Kastelic managed to throw the puck on net, catching Timmins off guard and securing the goal.

The Buffalo Sabres opened their highly anticipated 2025-26 season with a disappointing 4-0 loss, marking the fifth time in 55 seasons and the second at their home ground, to begin the new season and a chance to set the tone. Unfortunately, it was not the ideal start they had hoped for.

Buffalo’s netminder Alex Lyon finished with 29 saves. Lyon did well in his debut as a Sabre, despite not having much help in front of him. He was an offseason free-agent addition, stepping up in the absence of Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, who was on IR due to a lower-body injury.

New York Rangers goalie Igor Shesterkin stopped 37 shots, and Alex Lafreniere opened the scoring at 11:43 of the first period by being set up at the right post, where he slipped the puck into the crease. Lafreniere then out-muscled defenseman Jacob Bryson and then swept the puck into the open side.

Sabres center Josh Norris did not return after sustaining an upper-body injury during a faceoff with under five minutes left. Norris has a history of shoulder issues, finishing last season with an oblique injury after being acquired by Buffalo in a trade with Ottawa.

Buffalo was also without defensemen Owen Power, Michael Kesserling, and forward Zach Benson, who took a puck off the cheek in practice on Wednesday. Rangers forward Vincent Trochek did not return after he sustained an upper-body injury in the second period.

The Sabres will head to Boston for a 7:00 pm game against the Bruins on Saturday. They will be another formidable opponent and a chance for Buffalo to right the ship.

It’s that time of the year, a time filled with anticipation and hope for us, the fans. Could this be the season when the Buffalo Sabres finally break through the barriers that have hindered this team and city? The excitement is palpable.

As fans of this team, we’ve all felt the sting of incompetent leadership. But could this be the season where we finally see a change in the [specific area of leadership, e.g., coaching, management, or ownership]? The potential for change in this area is a reason for optimism —a glimmer of hope amid skepticism.

Is General Manager Kevyn Adams truly as bad as he seems, or is Owner Terry Pegula, in his infinite wisdom, being so non-compliant that it has caused such a ripple effect through the organization and, more importantly, the fans? The truth may be a combination of both, but most believe it’s the latter.

Let’s not overlook the fans’ unwavering support. Despite years of setbacks and unfulfilled promises, the average attendance since the 2010-11 season has been a testament to our dedication, roughly 16,000 strong. Your unwavering support is deeply appreciated and is not the issue, as some in management might believe. We stand together, united in our love for the team.

We can all agree on one thing: removing the nasty curse of years of failure has become a tremendous challenge. Changes in coaches and General Managers have proven unable to bring this team the success we’ve all been promised, and which they have long wished for, or so it seems. The fans who pay their hard-earned money to fill the seats, buy merchandise, and are the ones who have suffered the disappointments the most. We share in your disappointment and understand your frustration. Your feelings are valid, and we’re with you in this journey.