Full Breakdown
Bruins’ Game 4 Collapse and Jeremy Swayman’s Bench Outburst
4/28/2026, 8:21:06 AM
Game 4 Collapse
On Sunday, April 26 2026, the Boston Bruins fell 6-1 to the Buffalo Sabres at TD Garden, dropping the series to 3-1. Goaltender Jeremy Swayman was pulled in the third period with Buffalo leading 6-0; he yelled at the bench as he left. It was the first time Boston trailed 4-0 after the opening period of a playoff game.
Lead-up to the Game
Boston entered Game 4 after splitting the first two contests and losing Game 3, holding a 2-1 series lead before the home-ice defeat. Early defensive lapses produced four Sabres goals in the first period, and the Bruins were outshot 19-5 in that frame. Coach Marco Sturm said the team’s pre-game mood on Monday was “intense” following the loss.
Key Figures
Key figures: goaltender Jeremy Swayman, coach Marco Sturm, defenseman Charlie McAvoy, forward David Pastrnak, defenseman Nikita Zadorov, Sabres coach Lindy Ruff, and scorers Bowen Byram, Peyton Krebs, Josh Doan, Zach Benson.
Statistics
Buffalo outshot Boston 35-24 and held a 15-0 power-play advantage, now 15 straight chances without a goal. Boston recorded 17 giveaways, went 0-for-1 on the power play, and was outshot 19-5 in the first period. Swayman stopped 23 of 29 shots (0.793 SV%).
Official Reactions
Sturm said the team needed to feel embarrassed about the performance and urged players to move on and reset quickly. He noted that at least one player showed fire and that Swayman was not at fault. Swayman described his outburst as emotion after the team missed its high-competitive standard.
Criticism & Eyewitness
Boston fans booed the bench throughout the first period and chanted “Sway-man” after the goalie’s exit. The crowd’s reaction intensified after Zadorov’s cross-check on Rasmus Dahlin, prompting calls for discipline. A social-media video captured Swayman shouting toward the bench before heading down the tunnel, while players described Monday’s practice as “loud” and “pissed.”
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources list Swayman’s total shots as 24 or 29, creating a discrepancy. Boston’s power-play record appears as 0-for-1 in some accounts and 0-for-2 in others. No official decision on Zadorov’s pending suspension has been announced.
Verbatim Quotes
- “If, man-to-man in here, if we’re not fucking embarrassed with what just happened, then I don’t know what to say,” — Charlie McAvoy, defenseman, Boston Bruins
- “Wasted opportunity. Unacceptable,” — David Pastrnak, forward, Boston Bruins
- “We should be embarrassed because it was embarrassing.” — Marco Sturm, head coach, Boston Bruins
- “I understand the emotion of that because of the way the game went,” — Lindy Ruff, head coach, Buffalo Sabres
What’s Next
Game 5 is set for Tuesday night at KeyBank Center in Buffalo. The Bruins must win to stay alive; lineup changes are possible, and the league’s response to Zadorov’s cross-check remains pending.
