The Sabres were unable to complete the home and home sweep of the Bruins, as they were defeated 4-1 Saturday night.
Boston was able to get on the board first midway through the first period with a power play goal. Reilly Smith finished off a perfect cross-crease pass from Carl Soderberg. Ryan Spooner also drew an assist on the play.
Despite being outplayed the majority of the first period, Buffalo was able to tie the game up with under a minute remaining. Zemgus Girgensons banked the puck off of Tuukka Rask’s back as he was skating behind the net. This was Girgensons’ 4th goal this year, and third in the month of December. Matt Moulson and Henrik Tallinder were credited with the assists on the goal.
The first period would end with Buffalo being severely out-shot; 14-8.
Boston got off to a quick start in the second period; scoring just over a minute into the frame. David Krejci would fire a shot past Enroth to take the lead. Jarome Iginla would get the only assist on the play.
Kevin Porter skated off the ice late in the third period after he appeared to injure his leg after being hip checked. He did not return to the game.
The second period also saw Tyler Myers drop the gloves against another unlikely fighter in Patrice Bergeron. Neither player was able to connect any blows, and the fight ended with Myers wrestling Bergeron to the ice.
Although Buffalo was unable to slow the Bruins attack down, they were able to pick up their own. Shots in the second period still favored Boston, 14-13, for a two period total of 28-21.
Boston would increase their lead to 3-1 only a few minutes into the third period. Milan Lucic was found alone in the slot and made no mistake in firing one below Enroth’s blocker. Reilly Smith would add an empty netter to seal the victory for the Bruins with under a minute remaining.
The Sabres out shot the Bruins 14-11 in the third period, however were unable to find the back of the net.
The story of tonight’s game would be the inability of Buffalo to score on the power play. Buffalo had multiple opportunities (0 for 6) to cash in on the man advantage, as well as two 5-3 opportunities that they were unable to generate any offense on.
You can catch the Sabres back in action Monday as they host the Phoenix Coyotes. That game will be broadcast on MSG with a 7:00 pm puck drop.