On Sunday, the Buffalo Sabres finally returned to the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time in 15 years. It was well worth the wait.

After falling behind the Boston Bruins 2-0, it looked like the Sabres would get shut out in front of a packed crowd at KeyBank Center. They even heard some boos from frustrated fans over a power play that couldn’t muster anything in four chances.

With less than eight minutes left in the third period, Tage Thompson stuffed in a wraparound past Jeremy Swayman to get the crowd back into it. Like a powerful storm, the Sabres kept coming in waves until Thompson once again scored the clutch goal that tied the score with 4:16 remaining. Following some superb work from Alex Tuch behind the net, he got the puck to Thompson, who finished his second over a 3:42 span.

At that exact moment, the question was whether there would be overtime on the 33rd anniversary of May Day. A legendary call from Rick Jeanneret when Brad May scored the overtime winner to beat the Bruins in 1993.

Instead, it was the Sabres riding the momentum to get it done in regulation. On another play that involved the forecheck, Jack Quinn came out with the puck and fed a wide open Mattias Samuelsson in the slot for the emotional game-winner with 3:24 to go. Here’s how it looked and sounded.

Tuch added an empty netter that gave the Sabres enough cushion for the dramatic come from behind 4-3 win to take Game 1 over the Bruins in the best-of-seven Atlantic Division Semifinal.

David Pastrnak’s power-play goal came with less than eight seconds left in regulation for the final margin. It was a night of celebration for rabid Buffalo fans.

Game 2 starts now. What will they do for an encore? If it’s up to the fans, pandemonium in Western New York.