Tuch has 4 points, Sabres defeat Bruins in OT for 6th straight win

BOSTON --Alex Tuch had two goals and two assists, including scoring with 1:07 remaining in overtime to give the Buffalo Sabres a 4-3 win against the Boston Bruins at TD Garden on Saturday.

Tuch scored glove side from the slot off a drop pass from Dylan Cozens.
"Four points, he was incredible," Sabres coach Don Granato said. "Obviously, it was his night to rise, dictate, influence, take over. He's had a solid NHL career so far, but the potential that he has, it's enormous. He hasn't even scratched the surface, and a night like tonight is what we've been talking about."
Cozens had a goal and an assist, and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 37 saves for the Sabres (18-14-2), who have won six in a row and are 11-3-2 since losing eight straight in regulation from Nov. 4-19.
"We knew going into the third that they obviously hadn't lost in regulation (at home), and we wanted to be that first team to do that," Cozens said. "Obviously, they battle back, and then we take the two penalties to make it 5-on-3. The kill just did a great job, and 'UPL' did an outstanding job with some huge saves. We just found a way, and that shows the kind of team we are this year. We don't want to back down from anyone, and we know when adversity (happens) we can overcome it and win hockey games."
Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak each had a goal and an assist for the Bruins (28-4-4), who extended their season-opening home point streak to 21 games (18-0-3). Jeremy Swayman made 21 saves.
Boston will next play the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2023 Discover NHL Winter Classic at Fenway Park on Monday (2 p.m. ET; TNT, SN, TVAS).
"Disappointing finish," Marchand said. "We had that game, we had our hands all around it and kind of squandered it. That's on us. We should have been much better in that situation, but we're not going to dwell on it. We got a point and we've got a great opportunity ahead of us. We're going to have a lot of fun (in the Winter Classic). It's an exciting time."

Dylan Cozens tied it 3-3 with 1:37 remaining in the third period and the Luukkonen pulled for the extra skater.
Rasmus Dahlin started the play by blocking Pastrnak's attempt at the empty net. He then sent the puck down the ice, where Tuch beat out the icing and dropped a pass to Cozens, who scored from the right face-off circle with a shot that squeaked through Swayman.
"I kind of whiffed on that one a bit, and I think it threw him off," Cozens said. "I don't really remember exactly where it went. I think he was expecting far side and it ended up going short side and just found a way in. That's a lucky one for me there, but it was a great play by Tuch to beat the icing and drop it to me, and a great play by Dahlin, too."
Prior to Cozens' goal, Luukkonen made five saves during a 5-on-3 power play for Boston which lasted for 1:56.
"Dialed in," Granato said. "We've seen that. We've seen that build with him, that progression with him. More confident, more comfortable in our system where shots are coming, where a breakdown might happen. He's reading that. He's reading those situations. Significant in that regard."

Pastrnak gave the Bruins a 1-0 lead at 13:09 of the first period with a one-timer from the left circle off a cross-ice pass from David Krejci.

Thompson tied it 1-1 at 16:13. After Tuch forced a turnover in the Bruins defensive zone, Jeff Skinner got the puck to Thompson, who reached around Swayman's outstretched glove to put the puck into the net.
Tuch then put Buffalo in front 2-1 at 2:03 of the second period, skating in alone and beating Swayman blocker side with a wrist shot.
Patrice Bergeron tied it 2-2 at 5:16 off the third period. He scored a power-play goal with a one-timer from the right circle off a feed from Marchand, who scored on a breakaway to give the Bruins a 3-2 lead at 12:25.
"I think we'll put this away pretty quick and start focusing on the great event that's coming," Boston coach Jim Montgomery said. "The Winter Classic is like the Super Bowl of hockey in the regular season. It's a great time. It's a great event. It's a special event, and it's going to be at Fenway. So I think our minds are going to go there pretty quick and get excited about the Winter Classic."
NOTES:The Bruins tied their record for the longest season-opening home point streak (19-0 with two ties in 1973-74). … Buffalo is 14-0-1 when leading after two periods. … The Bruins lost in overtime for the first time this season (3-1).