Boston, Mass. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - The Buffalo Sabres' winless streak reached a baker's dozen in Boston on Saturday night, as the team let a tied game slip away in the final two minutes en route to a 3-1 loss to the Bruins at TD Garden.
Boston opened the scoring just 8:15 into the first period.
The Sabres earned a power play opportunity, as Bruins forward Charlie Coyle sat in the penalty box for a hooking minor. Unfortunately for Buffalo, it was worst-case scenario as the man-advantage expired.
A Boston zone-clearing attempt eluded both Owen Power and Peyton Krebs, and the puck slid into the neutral zone for Coyle to scoop up as he departed the box. Coyle then powered home the game's first goal with a whack against the left pad of Reimer off the breakaway.
The next goal of the game did not come until there was a mere 83 seconds left in the second period, and it came off the stick of Sabres winger JJ Peterka to tie the game.
Peterka's second goal in as many nights, his 10th of the season, dribbled behind Bruins goalie Joonas Korpisalo on a Sabres power play. Peterka pounced on a loose puck from the corner that slid right into the slot to even the score at 1-1.
A low-event third period looked to be leading to a 3-on-3 overtime, but Boston had other plans.
Sam Lafferty took a costly tripping penalty with 3:45 to play, and at the end of the penalty, the Bruins made the Sabres pay.
It was forward Morgan Geekie putting Boston up for good, as his go-ahead goal with 1:45 to play was then fortified by Bruins captain Brad Marchand netting an empty-net goal about a minute later to allow the home side to coast in the waning moments to the 3-1 win.
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SCORING RECAP
First Period:
BUF: NONE
BOS: 8:15 - Charlie Coyle (8) (Nikita Zadorov)
Second Period:
BUF: 18:23 - JJ Peterka (10) PPG (Jason Zucker, Bowen Byram)
BOS: NONE
Third Period:
BUF: NONE
BOS: 18:15 - Morgan Geekie (7) PPG (David Pastrnak, Mason Lohrei); 19:08 - Brad Marchand (14) ENG (David Pastrnak, Charlie McAvoy)
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Three Stars of the Game:
1.) Morgan Geekie - BOS
2.) Joonas Korpisalo - BOS
3.) Charlie Coyle - BOS
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What's next:
The Sabres travel to Long Island for the final game before Christmas on Monday against the New York Islanders. Puck drop at UBS Arena is set for 7:30 p.m. EST with Dan Dunleavy and Martin Biron on the call.