Arvidsson scores 2 and the Bruins beat the Sabres 4-2 to even first-round series at 1

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Morgan Geekie bounced in a shot from beyond center as part of Boston’s three-goal second-period surge and the Bruins beat the Buffalo Sabres 4-2 to even their first-round playoff series at 1 on Tuesday night.

Viktor Arvidsson scored twice and Pavel Zacha also scored. David Pastrnak had two assists to give him five points in the series and tie Bobby Orr for eighth on the Bruins career playoff list with 92 points.

Jeremy Swayman stopped 32 shots, and this time Boston managed to not blow a multigoal third-period lead.

Bowen Byram and Peyton Krebs scored 1:14 apart to cut Boston's lead to 4-2 with 4:52 remaining in regulation before being stymied by Swayman, who stopped the final eight shots he faced.

The Sabres opened the series with a 4-3 win in which they overcame a 2-0 third-period deficit by scoring four times in the final 7:58 of regulation on Sunday.

“A series doesn’t start until you win one on the road and that’s important for us moving forward,” Swayman said. “The biggest thing for our group is we left the past in the past and understood there was an opportunity tonight and seized it.”

The series shifts to Boston for Game 3 on Thursday night.

Rather than carry over the momentum from Sunday, the Sabres gradually sagged due to spotty goaltending and an anemic power play.

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen finished with 15 saves and was pulled after allowing Arvidsson’s second goal 16 seconds into the third period to put Boston up 4-0. Alex Lyon mopped up and finished stopping all seven shots he faced.

Luukkonen looked shaky on three of the four goals allowed.

Coach Lindy Ruff refused to blame Luukkonen specifically. He called Geekie's goal “lucky,” and added: “This team has been so good about we win together, we lose together. I’m not going to sit here and criticize that goal.”

And yet, Ruff didn't rule out the possibility of going with Lyon in Game 3.

Arvidsson opened the scoring 4:54 into the second period by beating Buffalo defender Mattias Samuelsson to a loose puck. He then drove in and beat Luukkonen through the legs after the goalie was late in getting his stick down.

Then came Geekie’s goal some 12 minutes later. From just outside the center line, the forward flipped a high backhander at the Buffalo net. Luukkonen came out of his crease in an attempt to glove it, only to have the puck bounce past him.

Geekie smiled when asked if he ever scored a goal like that and said: “No. And I don't think ever will again. Honestly, was just trying to dump it in and got a lucky bounce.”

Luukkonen took the blame on misplaying Geekie's shot.

“It’s a bad bounce. There’s no way around it: It can’t go in. Just kind of made a bad read on it,” he said. “I feel like the biggest thing for me, personally is if there’s a bad bounce, bad goal, you have to stop the bleeding. But wasn’t able to do that tonight.”

After Zacha redirected Pastrnak’s centering pass for a power-play goal with 1:50 left in the second period, Arvidsson scored by driving up the right wing and beating Luukkonen through the legs from 25 feet.

Buffalo’s power play continued to struggle in going 0-of-5 on Tuesday and 0-of-9 in two games. The drought extends into the season, after Buffalo closed 0-for-22 over its final seven games.

Ruff acknowledged the power play's struggles, but otherwise took the loss in stride. He noted that the Sabres were short on playoff experience after winning their first Atlantic Division title and snapping an NHL-record 14-year playoff drought.

“It's playoff hockey. Our guys have experienced very little of it. Now in a matter of few days, they’ve been able to experience two games,” Ruff said. "There’s areas we’re going to have to get better at, but don’t want to see one person doubting that we’re not going to go into Boston and win a hockey game.”

With the city still buzzing from Buffalo’s stunning win in Game 1, Bills quarterback Josh Allen kicked things off by beating the drum to lead the “Let’s go, Buffalo!” chants. The new father, wearing the jersey of Sabres forward and occasional golf partner Alex Tuch, then chugged a can of beer before violently throwing it to the ground to a crescendo of cheers.

AP NHL playoffs: https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cup and https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen hypes the crowd prior to the first period in Game 2 of a first-round NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series between the Buffalo Sabres and Boston Bruins Tuesday, April 21, 2026, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)

Boston Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman (1) makes a save in traffic during the first period in Game 2 of a first-round NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series against the Buffalo Sabres Tuesday, April 21, 2026, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)

Buffalo Sabres goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (1) watches the puck during the second period in Game 2 of a first-round NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series against the Boston Bruins Tuesday, April 21, 2026, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)

Boston Bruins center Morgan Geekie (39) celebrates his goal with right wing David Pastrnak (88) during the second period in Game 2 of a first-round NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series against the Buffalo Sabres Tuesday, April 21, 2026, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)

Boston Bruins left wing Viktor Arvidsson (71) celebrates his goal during the second period in Game 2 of a first-round NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series against the Buffalo Sabres Tuesday, April 21, 2026, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — J.J. Moser scored 12:48 into overtime to give the Tampa Bay Lightning a 3-2 victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday night, tying the first-round playoff series at 1-1.

The series shifts to Montreal for two games, with Game 3 set for Friday night. Game 4 is Sunday.

Brandon Hagel had a Gordie Howe hat trick with a goal, assist and a fight, and teammate Nikita Kucherov also scored for Tampa Bay. Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 25 shots.

The Lightning had lost four consecutive home playoff games and 10 of the past 11, dating to Game 4 against Colorado in the 2022 Stanley Cup Final and 11 of the previous 12 playoff games that went to overtime.

Lane Hutson and Josh Anderson scored for the Canadiens. Jakub Dobes finished with 31 saves.

Moser scored his first career playoff goal following an icing call, taking the puck off a faceoff win by Anthony Cirelli, skating around a stick check attempt by Kirby Dach and beating Dobes with a wrist shot from inside the left faceoff circle.

“We worked on faceoff plays and the puck kind of squirts out,’’ Moser said. “I tried to keep it in, skate with it and all of a sudden it opens up. I took it down and take a shot.’’

Kucherov forced overtime at 12:33 of the third period, collecting a deflected puck off the stick of Hagel and scoring on a wrap-around. The goal was the first playoff goal for Kucherov since April 19, 2023, a span of 17 postseason games.

“(Hagel) had a puck, shot the puck on the net,’’ Kucherov said. “I picked it up behind the net and put it in.’’

Hagel sparked the Lightning, scoring the opening goal 8:40 into the first period, assisting on the tying goal and fighting Montreal’s Juraj Slafkovsky — who had a hat trick in first game of the series — in the second period.

“Whatever it takes to win,’’ Hagel said. “Sometimes it’s going to take fighting, and sometimes it’s going to take scoring goals. I was lucky enough to squeak one by and then (Kucherov) made a good play. Obviously a good feeling just that we won tonight.’’

After taking the first game in overtime, Montreal took a lead into the third period, getting a power-play goal from Hutson – the fourth power-play goal of the series for the Canadiens – at 16:11 of the first period and a go-ahead goal from Anderson with 1:24 left in the second.

But the Canadiens were unable to capitalize on a power play chance with 2:15 left in regulation and Tampa Bay carried that momentum into overtime where the Lightning outshot Montreal 9-0.

“It would have been nice to get two (wins),’’ Montreal head coach Martin St. Louis said. “I felt like, after two periods, I felt we were so close of getting two (wins), especially the way we were playing. It just kind of got away from us a little bit. We didn’t play with the puck a lot. And I feel we carried that into overtime, too. When you keep giving them the puck, you’re just rolling the dice a little bit.’’

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman J.J. Moser (90) knocks the puck away from Montréal Canadiens defenseman Mike Matheson (8) during the first period in Game 1 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series, Sunday, April 19, 2026, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman J.J. Moser (90) celebrates after scoring the game-winning goal against the Montréal Canadiens during overtime in Game 2 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series, Tuesday, April 21, 2026, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Montréal Canadiens left wing Alexandre Texier (85) gets tripped up by Tampa Bay Lightning center Anthony Cirelli (71) during the first period in Game 2 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series, Tuesday, April 21, 2026, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Tampa Bay Lightning center Jake Guentzel (59) chases the puck after a save by Montréal Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes (75) during the second period in Game 2 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series, Tuesday, April 21, 2026, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Montréal Canadiens center Nick Suzuki (14) deflects the puck on Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (88) during the first period in Game 2 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series, Tuesday, April 21, 2026, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)