David Pastrnak scored a dramatic overtime goal to keep the Boston Bruins’ playoff hopes alive with a 2-1 win against the Buffalo Sabres in Game 5 of their first-round NHL playoff series on Tuesday night.

Bruins Force Game 6

Pastrnak’s breakaway goal came at 9:14 of the overtime period. The Bruins, facing elimination, capitalized on a Buffalo line change. Hampus Lindholm delivered a precise pass to Pastrnak, who was already skating with speed.

Pastrnak's Decisive Goal

With Mattias Samuelsson of the Sabres trailing, Pastrnak skillfully maneuvered towards the net, nearly losing his balance before scoring with a deceptive move, slipping the puck inside the right post. This win forces Game 6 back in Boston on Friday night.

Game Recap

Elias Lindholm also scored for Boston, tying the game at 9:24 of the second period. His initial shot bounced into the slot, and he quickly reacted, spinning around and firing a low shot through traffic.

Sabres Take Early Lead

Rasmus Dahlin opened the scoring for Buffalo at 3:35 of the first period with his first playoff goal, marking the Sabres’ first power-play goal in nearly a month. Jason Zucker assisted on the play.

The Sabres had been struggling on the power play, going 0-for-17 in the series and 0-for-22 dating back to March 31. Jeremy Swayman was crucial for the Bruins, making 25 saves, including a key stop on Zucker in overtime.

The Bruins played without Viktor Arvidsson, who was injured in Game 4 on Sunday.