Takeaways from the Bruins dominating 5-1 win in Buffalo

Brad Marchand, Charlie McAvoy, David Pastrnak, and Patrice Bergeron celebrate after a first period goal. AP Photo/Joshua Bessex The Boston Bruins cruised to a 5-1 victory over the Buffalo Sabres on Thanksgiving Eve. More importantly, they potentially avoided a significant scare.

Carrying a comfortable 4-1 lead into the third period, Charlie McAvoy found himself on the receiving end of a late hit from behind via Sabres forward Zemgus Girgensons. Boston’s trainers attended to McAvoy as he laid down on the ice for a few minutes before the fifth-year defenseman skated to the dressing room for facial repairs.

Girgensons earned a five-minute major and a game misconduct for boarding McAvoy into the…