Morgan Geekie scores go-ahead goal as Bruins send Sabres to 13th straight loss with 3-1 win

BOSTON (AP) — Morgan Geekie scored a tiebreaking, power-play goal with 1:45 left in regulation, and the Boston Bruins beat Buffalo 3-1 on Saturday night, sending the Sabres to their 13th straight loss.

Charlie Coyle scored a first-period goal and Brad Marchand added an empty-netter for the Bruins, who improved to 10-4-1 under interim coach Joe Sacco.

JJ Peterka scored for Buffalo, which is on its worst stretch since a club-record 18-game losing streak (0-15-3) in 2021. The Sabres haven’t won since a victory at San Jose on Nov. 23.

Just as a power play was about to expire, Geekie one-timed a shot from the slot for the winner.

Coyle came out of penalty box after his minor for hooking ended. He collected a clearing pass from Nikita Zadorov, going in on a breakaway. James Reimer made a left-skate stop, but, while on his backside, Coyle poked the puck in. Reimer stopped 16 shots.

Morgan Geekie scores go-ahead goal as Bruins send Sabres to 13th straight loss with 3-1 win | iNFOnews.ca
Boston Bruins’ Charlie Coyle (13) sets up to score on Buffalo Sabres’ James Reimer (47) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

Peterka beat Joonas Korpisalo over the right shoulder with a wrister to tie the game at 1-1 late in the second. Korpisalo made 19 saves.

Takeaways

Sabres: After losing at home to Toronto on Friday, they probably should have been the more tired team, but they took the play to the Bruins for lengthy stretches, especially in the second.

Bruins: Following a five-game trip out west where they went 2-2-1, they had a favorable opponent to play against after a day off. They returned to some listless play that’s bogged them down this season before pulling it out.

Key moment

Morgan Geekie scores go-ahead goal as Bruins send Sabres to 13th straight loss with 3-1 win | iNFOnews.ca
Boston Bruins’ Charlie Coyle (13) kneels on the ice beside teammates Cole Koepke (45) and Pavel Zacha (18) after scoring on Buffalo Sabres’ James Reimer (47) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

Boston had a goal taken off the board after a review showed that David Pastrnak was offside when Geekie scored 7:16 into the third.

Key stat

Neither team reached double digits in shots on goal in any period.

Up next

The Sabres are at the Islanders on Monday, and the Bruins host the Capitals the same night.

Morgan Geekie scores go-ahead goal as Bruins send Sabres to 13th straight loss with 3-1 win | iNFOnews.ca
Buffalo Sabres’ Tage Thompson (72) watches as the goal by teammate JJ Peterka, gets past Boston Bruins’ Joonas Korpisalo (70) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
Morgan Geekie scores go-ahead goal as Bruins send Sabres to 13th straight loss with 3-1 win | iNFOnews.ca
Buffalo Sabres’ JJ Peterka (77) celebrates his goal with Jason Zucker (17), Bowen Byram (4) Alex Tuch (89) and Tage Thompson (72) during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Boston Bruins, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
Morgan Geekie scores go-ahead goal as Bruins send Sabres to 13th straight loss with 3-1 win | iNFOnews.ca
Boston Bruins’ Joonas Korpisalo (70) blocks a shot as Buffalo Sabres’ Ryan McLeod (71) looks for the rebound during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
Morgan Geekie scores go-ahead goal as Bruins send Sabres to 13th straight loss with 3-1 win | iNFOnews.ca
Buffalo Sabres’ James Reimer (47) blocks a shot in front of Mattias Samuelsson (23) as Boston Bruins’ Pavel Zacha (18) and Morgan Geekie (39) look for the rebound during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

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