The Bruins finally put a win on the board Saturday, beating the Hurricanes to end a 10-game skid.
Boston got a hat trick from star David Pastrnak to claim its first win since March 11. Pastrnak reached the 40-goal mark for the fifth time in his career and also is the fifth-ever Bruin to record 90 points in three straight seasons.
The Bruins will look to follow that up with another win as they head to Buffalo to face another non-playoff team in the Sabres.
Despite the win, Boston was eliminated from playoff contention for the first time since 2016.
Buffalo has been on a pretty strong run with seven wins from its last 10 games.
Puck drop in Buffalo is set for 6 p.m. Here’s a preview.
When: Sunday, 6 p.m.
Where: KeyBank Center, Buffalo
TV, radio: NESN, WBZ-FM 98.5
Line: Buffalo -180. O/U: 6.0.
BRUINS
Season record: 31-37-9. vs. spread: 34-43. Over/under: 38-38, 1 push
Last 10 games: 1-8-1. vs. spread: 4-6. Over/under: 6-4
SABRES
Season record: 33-36-6. vs. spread: 38-37. Over/under: 43-25, 7 pushes
Last 10 games: 7-3-0. vs. spread: 6-4. Over/under: 6-4
TEAM STATISTICS
Goals scored: Boston 202, Buffalo 243
Goals allowed: Boston 252, Buffalo 264
Power play: Boston 15.1%, Buffalo 18.5%
Penalty minutes: Boston 777, Buffalo 798
Penalty kill: Boston 76.5%, Buffalo 76.7%
Faceoffs won: Boston 51.6%, Buffalo 47.9%
Stat of the day: Pastrnak’s 5-point night against Carolina brought him to 94 on the season, tied for fourth-most in the NHL.
Notes: Though Boston has been eliminated from playoff contention, interim coach Joe Sacco said he hopes the feel-good night can lead to a strong final five games of the regular season. “With the stretch that we’ve been on here lately, it’s nice to have the guys feel good about themselves again,” Sacco said. “There’s a lot of positive things that we can talk about, obviously, when you win a hockey game. I think it’s important for everybody.” … Pastrnak combined with linemates Morgan Geekie and Elias Lindholm to score all of the Bruins’ goals Saturday, breaking the team’s 11-game streak of not scoring more than three times. … The win was Jeremy Swayman’s 100th in the NHL and snapped a personal seven-game skid. … Sunday’s game will pit 40-goal stars against one another in Pastrnak and Buffalo’s Tage Thompson, who also reached the feat Saturday in the Sabres’ 3-2 shootout win over the Tampa Bay Lightning. Thompson is the first Sabre to post multiple 40-goal campaigns since Thomas Vanek (2006-07 and 2008-09).
Amin Touri can be reached at amin.touri@globe.com.
