Recap: Sabres 2, Bruins 1
Boston’s offensive struggles continued Friday night, losing in a shootout in Buffalo 2-1. While the Bruins were still able to pick up a point, a loss is a loss and they seem to be happening on a regular basis lately.
The last time Boston was in Buffalo, Tuukka Rask was pulled after allowing 3 goals on 10 shots and Julien appeared to want to give his net minder a chance at redeeming himself, as well as resting Tim Thomas for this evenings road trip finale.
Buffalo almost got the scoring going very early on. Their top line of Vanek-Roy-Pominville generated a ton of pressure early by setting up right off the opening drop. A series of nice passes inside the zone allowed Vanek to hit Roy at the top of the crease, with Roy deflecting the puck along the goal line.
Buffalo did not let up, keeping the pressure on for most of the 1st period. The Bruins only chance came around the 11-minute mark when a Chara slap shot rang off the crossbar.
The second period looked like it would be a bit more promising for Boston. Paul Gaustad made a care-less pass at his own blue line that ended up on Tyler Seguin’s stick, who streaked in alone on Miller and fired a shot off of the net minders glove. But it was the Sabres who would strike first with Andrej Sekera scoring from the right circle off a wicked wrister. It was Sekera’s first goal in 22 games.
Boston stepped on the gas in the 3rd and never let up. Captain Zdeno Chara scored a power play goal off of a Derek Roy turnover to tie the game up at 3:36. The Bruins pressure did not seem to faze Ryan Miller at all as he brushed aside every shot he faced. Boston had a chance to win the game by going on the power play late in the 3rd and early into the extra frame, but they were unable to convert.
In the shootout, David Krejci gave the Bruins a quick a lead before Thomas Vanek slipped one past Rask. Derek Roy scored again for Buffalo leaving it up to Benoit Pouliot to extend the game for the Bruins, but his shot went wide of the net.
Boston finishes their road trip in Ottawa tonight at 7 PM.
NOTES:
- It has been a month since Boston has won back-to-back games. They are 8-9-2 since that point.
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- Boston did not draw a penalty in the game. The last time that happened was January 27th, 2004 against the New York Islanders.
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- The Bruins have scored only 18 regulation goals in their last 11 games.
