The Gauntlet 2025-26 · Qualification night
The Bruins put out the Sabres
Bruins 3, Sabres 1
October 11, 2025. The Boston Bruins went out in the final, smothered by the Seattle Kraken.
Every round of the 2025-26 Gauntlet
Flamekeeper
Mark Kastelic
His slap shot at 10:21 of the second stood as the winner, and he later assisted on Sean Kuraly's empty-net tip-in.
Kastelic's slap shot leaves Buffalo's candle dark
A former champion gutters
Two seasons ago the Buffalo Sabres shared the Gauntlet. This time their flame lasted one night. The Boston Bruins had been snuffed on qualification night a year earlier by the Pittsburgh Penguins, and at TD Garden they made sure it didn't happen again. Both clubs came in off rough seasons, Buffalo 26th of 32 and Boston 28th. Only one candle would leave the building lit.
Kastelic loads the cannon
Pavel Zacha struck first with a snap shot at 15:48 of the first, set up by defensemen Jordan Harris and Andrew Peeke. Then Mark Kastelic wound up in the second. His slap shot at 10:21, fed by Charlie McAvoy, came 14:33 after Zacha's goal and stood as the winner.
Swayman holds the wick
Alex Lyon kept the Sabres in it with 28 saves on 30 shots. Jason Zucker finally beat Jeremy Swayman with a snap shot at 9:46 of the third, Mattias Samuelsson assisting, 19:25 after the previous goal. Then McAvoy went off for tripping at 10:07, which handed Buffalo a power play with the tying goal on the table.
Swayman let nothing else through and finished with 21 saves on 22 shots. With three seconds left, Sean Kuraly tipped in the empty-netter at 19:57, and Buffalo's flame went cold. The Bruins burn on, one of 29 candles still lit.
What is the Gauntlet?
A proposal for an NHL in-season tournament. All 32 teams start alive, every Gauntlet game is a game already on the regular-season schedule, and lose one and you are out.