Buffalo won because Lyon conceded 1.6 goals below league average while Boston's penalty discipline collapsed under 21 PIMs, neutralizing any path back into the game.
β‘TURNING POINT
Benson's goal at 5:58 of the third restored a two-goal cushion immediately after Boston had briefly cut the deficit, erasing any runway for a Bruins comeback. With Buffalo already controlling shot suppression and penalty leverage, a 3-1 lead in the third period against a team in foul trouble was effectively a closed door.
πWHY BUF WON (ranked by impact β most decisive first)
1
Goaltending: Lyon conceded 1.6 goals below league average on 26 shots β in a 3-goal margin game, that buffer directly absorbed Boston's offensive pressure.
2
Penalty Kill Dominance: Boston took 21 PIMs to Buffalo's 2, generating five power play opportunities for Buffalo. Though Buffalo converted 0/5, the sheer man-advantage time drained Boston's momentum and limited their 5v5 effectiveness throughout the game.
3
Shot Suppression: Blocked Shots 19 (BUF) vs. 9 (BOS) β Buffalo's defensive structure denied Boston quality looks, keeping Swayman's workload manageable while Lyon faced equivalent volume.
πWHY BOS LOST (ranked by impact β biggest failure first)
1
Goaltending: Swayman conceded 0.5 goals above league average on 25 shots β in a 3-goal game that margin compounded a team already fighting from behind.
2
Penalty Discipline: 21 PIMs against a 50-win team is structural self-destruction; Buffalo needed only to maintain zone entries while Boston repeatedly reduced itself to skaters defending rather than attacking.
3
Faceoff Deficit: Faceoff %: 44.1% (BUF) vs 55.9% (BOS) β Boston won the dot but the wins were concentrated in losing periods, failing to convert territorial possession into sustained offensive zone time when trailing.
Three Stars
Alex Lyon1st
BUF, G
SV% 0.962conceded 1.6 goals below league average
Lyon's performance provided the structural foundation that made Buffalo's two-goal periods possible β every Boston push absorbed cleanly.
Tage Thompson2nd
BUF, C
0G 2A 2P5 shots on goal+/- +2TOI 21:54
Thompson's playmaking across both Buffalo goals in the first period set the tone before Boston could establish any defensive structure.
Jeremy Swayman3rd
BOS, G
SV% 0.880TOI 58:08
Swayman faced 25 shots and conceded 0.5 goals above league average β without his work the margin would have been wider in a game Boston had no other answers for.
