That inner belief showed itself as he carried the puck on the left side of a three-on-one rush in overtime. He had Fraser Minten and Hampus Lindholm with him, but Khusnutdinov never hesitated. He snapped a wrist shot by Sabres goalie Alex Lyon to give the Bruins a 4-3 win.

Marat Khustnutdinov, who took a few shifts at top-line center after Elias Lindholm left the game, scored his first goal in overtime.

The Boston Bruins won a second straight game Thursday, beating the Buffalo Sabres 4-3 in overtime. Here are five takeaways from the win, including Marat Khusnutdinov playing the hero and Elias Lindholm leaving with an injury.

With Elias Lindholm out for the foreseeable future, Marat Khusnutdinov gets the call to center the Bruins’ top line.

Oct 30, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Bruins center Fraser Minten (93) center Michael Eyssimont (81) defenseman Jonathan Aspirot (45) mob goaltender Joonas Korpisalo (70) after defeating the Buffalo Sabres in overtime at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images

As the Boston Bruins prepare to face the Ottawa Senators on Monday night, excitement brews not only for the game but also for the return of Marat Khusnutdinov to the lineup. This matchup at the Canadian Tire Centre marks a pivotal moment in the season for the Bruins, who aim to build on their recent success against the Colorado Avalanche.