Boston won because Swayman conceded 1.50 goals below league average while Pastrnak's 7 shots forced overtime and delivered the winner.
β‘TURNING POINT
Lindholm's even-strength equalizer at 9:24 of the second erased Buffalo's power-play advantage and reset the game on Boston's terms β terms Boston was winning by every measurable indicator. Without that goal, Boston's faceoff dominance, shot volume, and physical edge translated to nothing; with it, they owned the frame heading into the third and eventually overtime.
πWHY BOS WON (ranked by impact β most decisive first)
1
Goaltending: Swayman conceded 1.50 goals below league average on 25 shots β in a 2-goal regulation game, that margin kept Boston alive long enough to win in OT.
2
Faceoff Control: 59.6% faceoff rate (34 of 57 won) β sustained offensive-zone access directly generated Pastrnak's 7 shots on goal, the most of any skater.
3
Puck Recovery: Takeaways 7 vs. 2 β Boston converted turnovers into sustained pressure that Lyon was forced to absorb across 29 shots.
πWHY BUF LOST (ranked by impact β biggest failure first)
1
Goaltending: Lyon conceded 0.90 goals below league average on 29 shots β but Pastrnak alone generated 7 shots, and the OT winner slipped through at 9:14.
2
Special Teams Dependency: Buffalo's only goal came on their lone power-play conversion; at even strength over 69 minutes they scored zero, while Boston generated 2 even-strength goals.
3
Faceoff Collapse: 40.4% faceoff rate β Buffalo ceded zone starts throughout, leaving their defensive structure repeatedly exposed to Boston's shot volume.
Three Stars
David Pastrnak1st
BOS, R
1G7 SOGTOI 25:15+/- +1
His shot volume β highest of any skater β sustained Boston's offensive pressure through 60 minutes and produced the overtime winner.
Alex Lyon2nd
BUF, G
SV% 0.93127/29 savesTOI 69:14
Conceding 0.90 goals below league average on 29 shots, he kept Buffalo in contention against a team that dominated possession metrics.
Rasmus Dahlin3rd
BUF, D
1G3 SOGTOI 29:01PPG 1
His power-play goal was Buffalo's only lead of the game and the lone even-strength threat he generated from the back end in heavy minutes.
