Bruins Prospects Beat Sabres Prospects in Prospect Showcase Opener

The Boston Bruins opened their prospect showcase with a dominant 6-2 victory over the Buffalo Sabres on Sunday. Boston’s prospects came out flying, received strong performances from several of their top young players, and pulled away as the game progressed.

Max Lundgren started in net for the Bruins, while Scott Ratzlaff got the start for Buffalo.

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Bruins Strike Early Against Sabres Prospects

Boston wasted no time getting on the scoreboard, taking just 25 seconds to open the scoring. A strange bounce off the glass sent the puck past Ratzlaff, with Attilio Biasca receiving credit for the goal.

Biasca signed with the Bruins in June after spending the 2025-26 season with HC Fribourg-Gottéron in Switzerland.

The Sabres answered just under six minutes later. Dylan Dumont scored on the power play after Cullen McCrate took a penalty for Boston, tying the game at 1-1.

Boston regained the lead after killing off a James Hagens slashing penalty. Dans Locmelis finished the opportunity to put the Bruins back in front.

Buffalo then received another power play to close out the opening period and carried it into the second. Riley Duran was called for delay of game, but Boston killed off the opportunity.

The Bruins then extended their lead with a power-play goal. Nolan Renwick redirected a McCrate shot past Ratzlaff to make it 3-1.

Just over a minute later, Hagens got on the scoresheet. The highly regarded Bruins prospect twisted a shot past Ratzlaff to give Boston a 4-1 advantage.

Buffalo responded with another power-play goal, as Doman Szongoth cut the deficit to 4-2.

Bruins Add Another Goal Before Intermission

The physicality picked up late in the second period.

Sabres forward Brayden Holberton delivered a hard hit on Bruins forward Cole Chandler, which led to Nolan Renwick stepping in. Renwick knocked Holberton down, and Holberton responded by throwing punches.

Both players received penalties and spent the remainder of the second period in the penalty box.

Boston then added another goal with less than two seconds remaining in the period. Thomas Zocco beat Ratzlaff in the right corner to make it 5-2 heading into the final frame.

Hagens Adds Second Goal in Third Period

Buffalo turned to Talyn Boyko in goal to start the third period, but Hagens quickly picked up where he left off.

Just over seven minutes into the final frame, Hagens wristed a shot into the top-left corner to give Boston a 6-2 lead. The goal gave him two goals in the Bruins’ showcase opener and highlighted the impact the organization hopes he can make as he continues his development.

Hagens later went to the penalty box for roughing with 7:14 remaining, giving Buffalo its fifth power play of the afternoon. Once again the penalty was killed off by the Bruins prospects.

Buffalo could not generate much offensively during the man advantage, and Boston comfortably closed out the 6-2 victory.

Lundgren Starts Strong in Goal

Lundgren also received an important opportunity to make an impression in the Bruins’ first showcase game.

The Bruins signed Lundgren to an entry-level contract last season, although he did not appear in a game. He played every game for Merrimack College last season, posting a 21-16-2 record with a 2.55 goals-against average, a .920 save percentage and one shutout. He stopped 29 of the 31 shots he faced in the win.

Bruins Prospect Showcase Continues Monday

Boston will return to action tomorrow at noon for the second game of the prospect showcase.

The game will be available on Bruins.com and can also be heard on 98.5 The Sports Hub.

Following the showcase, the Bruins will begin their preseason schedule next Sunday against the Washington Capitals at 5:00 p.m. EST. That game will air on NESN+.

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