The struggling Boston Bruins needed that. They needed a win. Against the Buffalo Sabres, that’s exactly what they accomplished.
That’s only the second win of January for Boston, and the club’s recent slide has it precariously in a Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference. After falling behind in the first period, the Bruins scored four unanswered goals -- Ryan Spooner had a three-point night and Zdeno Chara scored the winner -- to defeat the Sabres 4-1 on Friday.
Sabres’ goalie Robin Lehner started his first game since Oct. 8, when he suffered a high-ankle sprain, and made 27 saves on 30 shots.
“We knew tonight’s game was going to be a big game for us. We wanted to finish strong,” said Chara, as per the Associated Press.
“And that’s what we did. We were able to score goals, maintain the same play, be aggressive on pucks, kept up the high pace. So that’s pretty much why we got rewarded, and we got two points.”
Two points keep the Bruins in a Wild Card spot. As you can see below, the margin for error is growing smaller and smaller.
As for the Sabres, Zemgus Girgensons left the game with a lower-body injury and did not return.
Coach Bylsma says Girgensons has an upper-body injury, will be re-evaluated tomorrow. "Highly unlikely" he'll play vs. Caps.
— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) January 16, 2016