Goalie Linus Ullmark leads the way as Bruins down Sabres
Bruins netminder Linus Ullmark gave the B’s exactly what they needed in a 4-1 win over the Sabres.
BUFFALO, NY – OCTOBER 22: Linus Ullmark #35 of the Boston Bruins tends net as Jeff Skinner #53 of the Buffalo Sabres skates with the puck during the first period at KeyBank Center on October 22, 2021 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Kevin Hoffman/Getty Images)
The Bruins looked at Linus Ullmark's debut coming against the team he called his own for six seasons one of two ways.
Bruce Cassidy knew that nobody knew the Sabres' shooters better than the 28-year-old Ullmark, but that the Buffalo shooters also knew Ullmark better than any other goaltender in the NHL. The former played out for a full 60 minutes Friday night at KeyBank Center, as Ullmark turned aside 34-of-35 shots faced for a 4-1 victory over the Sabres.
Peppered for 15 shots in the opening frame, Ullmark's best work came late in the first period, and with a little bit of luck (aren't all goaltenders lucky when you really think about it?) as a Dylan Cozens shot slid under Ullmark but was stopped by his left leg on the goal line to help keep Boston's lead through 20 minutes of action as safe as can be.
Ullmark's first goal of support didn't take long, either, as David Pastrnak found the back of the net just 3:49 into the first period, with Brad Marchand beating up the Sabres' Rasmus Dahlin to send the puck to Patrice Bergeron and then Pastrnak.
But the Bruins weren't done, as Tomas Nosek's first with Boston came in the first period, and right on the heels of a promotion up to the Boston second line with Taylor Hall and Charlie Coyle. The goal was what you can expect from Nosek in 2021-22, too, as he drove to the net and finished off some sweet puck movement in the attacking zone.
Up two in the middle frame, the B's jumped out to a three-goal lead with a second-period power-play marker scored by Coyle, but created off a beautiful dish by Marchand threaded through traffic and right to Coyle's blade.
And with a three-goal lead, and even before the lead, Ullmark remained the constant in this contest for the Bruins, really.
Coming through with some spectacular saves when necessary — Ullmark even came through with a helmet save in the middle frame — the ex-Buffalo netminder stonewalled the team throughout the night, and the Sabres couldn't find a way to get one by him until the Victor Olofsson tally with 5:25 remaining in regulation.
Boston played this game without forward Nick Foligno after the 33-year-old suffered an upper-body injury in Wednesday's loss to the Flyers. The Bruins expect to remain without Foligno for at least one more game, too. But Foligno's replacement, Anton Blidh, failed to make it through his season debut unscathed, as an upper-body injury knocked him out of Friday's win, which could leave the Bruins reaching into the Providence ranks ahead of their next game.
Connor Clifton, meanwhile, sat this game out as a healthy scratch in favor of veteran defenseman John Moore.
The Bruins will return home for a Sunday matinee with the Sharks.
Ty Anderson is a writer and columnist for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Yell at him on Twitter: @_TyAnderson.
