Sure, the Boston Bruins were without three of their top defensemen – Charlie McAvoy (wrist), Hampus Lindholm (knee) and Brandon Carlo (ill) – but Boston’s overall defense was terrible during a 7-2 loss to the Buffalo Sabres Tuesday at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, N.Y.

The Boston Bruins suffered an embarrassing 7-2 loss to the Sabres in Buffalo Tuesday night and are now 1-7-1 on the road since Christmas. They don’t seem to have any answers for why they’ve been so much worse on the road than at home.

The lead lasted all of 55 seconds. The B’s top line got hemmed in its own end for much of the shift and, after it finally pushed it out of the zone, the players got caught in a change. On a Sabre 4-on-3, Matt Poitras got lost out high and Dylan Cozens connected with the wide-open trailer Thompson, who ripped a slapper past Swayman.

From the top down, there was nothing for the Boston Bruins to be proud of in their lifeless effort at KeyBank Center, where they lost 7-2 to the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday night.

Boston Bruins left wing Cole Koepke (45) collides with Buffalo Sabres goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen in the crease during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes) AP

Tage Thompson and JJ Peterka had hat tricks, and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 25 saves as Buffalo rolled to a 7-2 win over Boston.

For this matchup against the Sabres, the Bruins' forward group will be getting a boost. This is because forward Cole Koepke will be back in the lineup after missing each of the Bruins' last five games.

Read the recent NHL news and rumors about Brandon Carlo for fantasy hockey. Boston Bruins defenseman Brandon Carlo (illness) is a game-time decision for

The McAvoy family grew after Charlie McAvoy’s wife Kiley, gave birth the couple’s first child on Sunday morning.

Charlie McAvoy’s injury won’t keep him from playing in the NHL 4 Nations Face-Off for Team USA.

The Bruins host the Jets on Thursday. Lindholm, who is currently on Long Term Injured Reserve has been out since suffering a lower-body injury on Nov. 12 against the Blues. McAvoy had been out since Jan. 11 with an undisclosed injury.