two assists, in a 3–2 win over the Philadelphia Flyers. Overall, Boughner had one goal and eight points in 77 games, and had 225 penalty minutes, as Buffalo reached the playoffs. Boughner played in his first career playoff game on April 17, earning no points in a 3–1 win over the Ottawa Senators. On May 3, Boughner earned his first playoff point, an assist, in a 5–3 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers. In 11 postseason games, Boughner had one assist, and nine penalty minutes. In 1997–98, Boughner had a goal and four points in 69 games, and had the third highest penalty minute total on the team with 165, as Buffalo reached the playoffs for the second straight season. In 14 playoff games, Boughner had four assists. On June 26, 1998, the Sabres left Boughner unprotected for the 1998 NHL Expansion Draft, and the Nashville Predators selected him. Nashville Predators (1998–2000) Boughner played in the Nashville Predators first ever game on October 10, 1998, as he was held pointless in a 1–0 loss to the Florida Panthers. On October 31, he earned his first point as a Predator, an assist, in a 3–2 win over the Colorado Avalanche. Boughner scored his first goal with Nashville on December 26, beating Olaf Kolzig of the Washington Capitals, in a 3–1 Predators victory. Overall, Boughner had three goals and 13 points in 79 games during the 1998–99, as the expansion club failed to reach the playoffs. Boughner began the 1999–2000 season with Nashville, as he scored two goals and six points in 62 games. On March 13, 2000, the Predators traded Boughner to the Pittsburgh Penguins for Pavel Skrbek. Pittsburgh Penguins (2000–2001) Boughner finished the 1999–2000 season with the Pittsburgh Penguins, and in his first game with the club on March 16, 2000, he scored the game-winning goal on the power play against Trevor Kidd of the Florida Panthers in a 4–2 Penguins victory. In 11 games with Pittsburgh, Boughner recorded just the one goal. In the postseason, Boughner had two assists in 11 games. In 2000–01, Boughner had a goal and four points in 58 games, as his 147 penalty minutes were the second highest on the Penguins, as the club reached the postseason. In 18 playoff games, Boughner had an assist, as Pittsburgh lost to the New Jersey Devils in the Conference finals. After the season, Boughner was granted free agency.