Final, Bruins 5-2: Tim Thomas finally gave up more than one goal in a game, but Buffalo’s two late tallies weren’t nearly enough to derail the Bruins express as Boston won its third straight game.
The Bruins are now 7-2-0 overall and 5-0-0 on the road to start the season. That’s the first time a Bruins team has ever opened the season with five wins in its first five road games, while Thomas becomes the first Boston goalie ever to start a season 7-0-0.
Third Period, 18:12, Bruins 5-2: The Bruins will end this one on the power play as Thomas Vanek goes off for hooking.
Third Period, 17:53, Bruins 5-2: The Bruins may have finally put this one away as Milan Lucic scores into the empty net.
Krejci set him up with a nice pass out from the right boards, and Lucic did a good job of getting the shot around the only defender back for Buffalo.
Third Period, 15:26, Bruins 4-2: The Sabres strike quickly after the penalty, with Andrej Sekera scoring on a backhander from the slot that dribbled in through traffic in front.
Buffalo is the first team to score two goals on Thomas this year, and the Bruins will have to sweat this one out a bit in the final minutes.
Third Period, 15:06, Bruins 4-1: The Bruins didn’t get much going on that power play.
Some pretty sloppy play, as oston actually got hemmed in their own zone for much of the two minutes.
Third Period, 13:06, Bruins 4-1: The Bruins finally get a power-play chance of their own, as Craig Rivet gets called for tripping.
He prevented Chara from trying to get back and help against a 2-on-1.
Third Period, 11:20, Bruins 4-1: Some good work defensively from Matt Hunwick in this one.
His strong effort, combined with inspired outings from Ryder and Wheeler, certainly makes it look like all the guys who know they could be cap casualties when Marc Savard and Marco Sturm return are determined to make those decisions tough for the Bruins.
Third Period, 8:20, Bruins 4-1: The Bruins survive that scare, as the sides are back at even strength.
The Sabres came close at the end of the two-man advantage, but Derek Roy couldn’t finish a chance at the left post as Thomas tried to reach behind him in desperation.
Third Period, 6:20, Bruins 4-1: The Bruins are now down two men for 37 seconds, as Bergeron joins Thornton in the box with another tripping call.
Buffalo uses its timeout to give its power play a chance to rest and stay on the ice.
Third Period, 4:57, Bruins 4-1: The Bruins continue to rack up the penalty minutes, as Shawn Thornton now goes to the box for tripping.
As good as the Bruins’ PK has been, they can’t afford to keep giving opponents chances on the man-advantage.
Third Period, 3:42, Bruins 4-1: The Bruins are doing what they need to do, keeping the puck deep in the Buffalo zone for long stretches.
The Krejci line had plenty of pressure on that shift, with Lucic especially aggressive on the forecheck.
Third Period, 0:42, Bruins 4-1: The Bruins have begun another streak on the penalty kill, as Seguin exits the box and the sides are back at even strength.
Second Intermission Notes: The Sabres still trail by three goals, but they did end a pair of long shutout streaks in the second.
Stafford’s goal was the first against the Bruins in 195 minutes, 57 seconds, and the first on Thomas in 167:12.
The Bruins have actually been outshout 21-20 so far in this one, but Thomas is keeping his save percentage stellar with 20 stops.
The Bruins also have 11 blocked shots, led by Adam McQuaid’s four. The Sabres, meanwhile, are up to 10 giveaways, compared to Boston’s three.
The Bruins did a little better on face-offs in the second, and have now won 31 percent of draws (12-37). campbell (1-8) and Krejci (3-9) continue to struggle. Gaustad remains at 9-0 for Buffalo, as he didn’t take a draw in the second.
End Second Period, Bruins 4-1: The Sabres finally ended Thomas’ shutout streak, but the Bruins still head into the second intermission in control with a three-goal lead.
Thomas also got bowled over in the crease by Thomas Vanek on that power play, but the Buffalo winger wasn’t called for goalie interference. The Sabres will have 42 seconds left on their man-advantage to start the third.
Second Period, 18:42, Bruins 4-1: The parade to the penalty box continues with Tyler Seguin getting whistled for hooking. It’s the rookie’s first penalty in the NHL.
Second Period, 17:07, Bruins 4-1: More rough stuff, as Milan Lucic clocks Kaleta with a big right in a post-whistle scrum.
He draws two for roughing, while Kaleta gets two for unsportsmanlike conduct to make it a 4-on-4 situation for the next two minutes.
Second Period, 16:39, Bruins 4-1: Tim Thomas, and the Bruins’ penalty kill, finally have given up a goal.
Drew Stafford gets Buffalo on the board with a second effort stuff-in at the left post.
Second Period, 14:58, Bruins 4-0: The Bruins can get back on the attack now. They’re short-handed again with Wheeler in the box for slashing.
Second Period, 11:57, Bruins 4-0: The extra penalty to McCormick has been announced as a roughing call. That may be changed to an instigator, as he did get the misconduct as well, but for now he appears to escaped that call, which could be big down the road for him with the automatic suspensions that kick in after a player’s third instigating penalty in a season.
Second Period, 11:57, Bruins 4-0: Things finally break out a bit, with Mark Stuart and Cody McCormick dropping the gloves.
Stuart gets the original two for roughing for a decking pest Kaleta with a couple shoves. That brought McCormick flying in for a wild swinging bout with both men landing. McCormick gets the extra two for instigating, plus a misconduct, but the manpower stays even.
McCormick remains the only Sabre to have a fight this year, with all four of the club’s fighting majors.
Second Period, 11:50, Bruins 4-0: Wheeler and Ryder both showing some nice speed and energy in this one.
They look a lot more like the 2008-09 versions that skated with Krejci than the disappointing versions of 2009-10.
Second Period, 9:30, Bruins 4-0: The Bruins have plenty to be proud of with their start to the season in general and their performance in this game in particular, but a big factor in this game has been the poor effort and decision-making of the Sabres.
What has happened to the team that won the division just a year ago?
Second Period, 7:20, Bruins 4-0: The Bruins couldn’t convert on the power play. Guess they only like the extra space when they’re the team playing a man down.
Second Period, 5:20, Bruins 4-0: The Bruins are going back on the power play as things get a little nasty in Buffalo.
Tyler Myers is sent off for roughing but could have easily gotten more for a shot at Mark Recchi’s head. The veteran was looking for a cross-check or high-sticking call.
After the whistle, there was a scrum, with Matt Hunwick and Patrick Kaleta nearly coming to blows in an unlikely bout, but the linesmen prevented anything from escalating.
Second Period, 2:11, Bruins 4-0: The rout is officially on, as Michael Ryder adds another goal to make it 4-0.
Ryder flew down the right wing with a burst of speed, but fanned on his initial attempt. That may have crossed up Lalime though, as Ryder’s second effort slipped through the pads for the goal.
Second Period, 0:00, Bruins 3-0: The second period is under way, and the Sabres have turned to Patrick Lalime in goal.
He replaced Enroth, who allowed three goals on just nine shots in the first.
First Intermission Notes: The Bruins are off to another strong start in this one, jumping out to a 3-0 lead after 20 minutes.
The Bruins hold a 12-9 edge in shots, led by three by Brad Marchand, who scored his first career goal with one of two short-handed tallies by the Bruins.
Patrice Bergeron had the other short-handed goal as the Bruins scored on both of their shots on the penalty kill, while Buffalo has no goals and just three shots on two power plays.
The Bruins have benefited from some costly miscues by the Sabres, who were charged with six giveaways in the first. That included three by old friend Steve Montador alone.
The one area that the Bruins do need to work on is in the fce-off circle. Boston has won just 3 of 19 draws (16 percent). Greg Campbell (0-7 ) and David Krejci (0-5) have particularly struggled, while Buffalo’s Paul Gaustad is a dominating 9-0 so far.
End First Period, Bruins 3-0: Another impressive 20 minutes for the Bruins, who take a commanding 3-0 lead into the first intermission.
The Bruins’ top-ranked penalty kill struck for two short-handed goals by Marchand and Bergeron, while Wheeler added a third goal at even strength. Ryder also just missed a power-play strike from Seguin in the closing seconds.
First Period, 18:11, Bruins 3-0: With two short-hnaded goals already, the Bruins now get their first chance on the power play as Tim Connolly is called for slashing.
First Period, 16:54, Bruins 3-0: The Bruins extend the lead again, this time with Blake Wheeler scoring his first of the season.
After Chara kept the puck in at the left point, Ryder fed it out from behind the net to Wheeler at the top of the crease for the goal.
First Period, 14:54, Bruins 2-0: The Bruins strike again while short-handed, this time with Patrice Bergeron scoring.
Bergeron followed his own shot, which was blocked in front, with a wroster from the right circle for this one.
First Period, 14:15, Bruins 1-0: The Bruins are back on tye penalty kill again.
This time it’s Dennis Seidenberg in the box for holding.
First Period, 13:45, Bruins 1-0: Blake Wheeler just missed doubling the lead with a backhander from the slot.
First Period, 9:02, Bruins 1-0: Buffalo defenseman Tyler Myers tries the indirect route with a slapper off the boards hoping to create a chance off the bounce, but Thomas smothers the puck in the crease.
Smart play by the young blueliner, but he’ll have to do a little better to beat Thomas these days.
First Period, 8:00, Bruins 1-0: Excellet shift for the Bruins’ fourth line there.
Shawn Thornton delivers a big hit on agitator Patrick Kaleta, while Greg Campbell and Marchand created several offensive chances. Marchand couldn’t quite catch up to a loose puck for a another chance to break in alone.
First Period, 3:32, Bruins 1-0: The Bruins strike first as Brad Marchand makes his first NHL goal a memorable one with a short-handed breakaway.
Marchand takes advantage of a turnover and breaks in from the right wing, cuts to the middle and beats Enroth with a forehand move. That’s the long-awaited first goal for Marhcand in his 29th career game. also the first short-handed goal of the season for Boston.
First Period, 2:49, 0-0: The Bruins’ top-ranked penalty kill will get an early test as Michael Ryder goes off for hooking.
Buffalo tough guy Cody McCormick had some words for Ryder, but Adam McQuaid came over to settle things down.
First Period, 1:30, 0-0: The Bruins are keeping their new second and third lines together as expected, with Mark Recchi back with Patrice Bergeron and Jordan Caron, while Blake Wheeler is down with Tyler Seguin and Michael Ryder.
First Period, 0:00, 0-0: And we’re under way in Buffalo.
Both teams are starting their fourth lines, looking for a little energy to get things going.
Grier is on that Buffalo fourth line, a nice move by Buffalo to let him have the start in his 1,000th game.
6:55 p.m.: The scratches are in, and the Bruins’ lineup remains unchanged for this one.
Daniel Paille is again a healthy scratch against his old team, as is Brian McGrattan, while Johnny Boychuk remains out with his fractured forearm.
For Buffalo, former Boston College star Nathan Gerbe remains out with a broken jaw, while defensemen Mike Weber and Chris Butler are healthy scratches. As expected, Jason Pominville is back after missing nine games with a concussion and captain Craig Rivet also returns after being a healthy scratch the last two games.
6:30 p.m.: Jhonas Enroth led the Sabres onto the ice for warmups, indicating he will indeed get his second career start – and second start against the Bruins – in this one.
While Enroth will be playing game No. 2 in his career, Mike Grier will be playing his 1,000th game in the league. Seems fitting that the Holliston, Mass. native and former Boston University star will reach the milestone against his hometown team.
6 p.m.: The Bruins and Sabres are just an hour away from dropping the puck in Buffalo.
While the Bruins are expected to go with Tim Thomas in goal, the Sabres are keeping close tabs on who will be between the pipes while Ryan Miller sits out with a lower-body injury.
Indications are that call-up Jhonas Enroth could get the call. He has played just one game in the NHL, ironically against the Bruins almost exactly a year ago. He allowed four goals on 37 shots in a 4-2 loss to the Bruins at the Garden on Nov. 7, 2009.
On interesting note from the Sabres: With Enroth recalled, their AHL affiliate in Portland had no other goalie on hand to back up David Leggio for Tuesday night’s game in Charlotte. The solution? Portland dressed an intern from the Charlotte front office, Chris Jablonski, as their backup. He wasn’t called upon to play, as Leggio made 24 saves to lead Portland to a 4-3 shootout win.
3:30 p.m.: There will be one Vezina winner on the ice in Buffalo on Wednesday.
That’s good news for Boston. Not so much for the Sabres.
Tim Thomas was the first goalie off the ice at the morning skate, indicating that the 2009 Vezina winner will get a chance to continue his stellar start to the season against a Sabres club that he hasn’t had a lot of success against.
Thomas has lost his last five starts against Buffalo, but no team has had any success against him this year. Thomas is 6-0-0 with a 0.50 GAA, .984 save percentage and three shutouts so far, and with the struggling Sabres off to a 3-7-2 start, this might be the perfect time for Thomas to end his drought against Buffalo.
The Sabres, meanwhile, will be without 2010 Vezina winner Ryan Miller, who will be out with a lower-body injury. Patrick Lalime is expected to start, while Jhonas Enroth has been recalled to back him up.
For a complete breakdown of the matchup, check out our Facing Off feature.
8 a.m.: The Bruins opened their current three-game road trip with an impressive 4-0 win at Ottawa on Saturday. Now they’ll look to continue their winning ways in Buffalo on Wednesday.
It will mark the first meeting of the Northeast Division rivals since Boston ousted the reigning division champs from the playoffs last spring. The Bruins prevailed in six games in that series as Tuukka Rask outdueled Vezina winner Ryan Miller.
Now it’s Tim Thomas who is back to his Vezina form of two years ago, as he’s off to a 6-0-0 start with a sizzling 0.50 GAA, .984 save percentage and three shutouts. Thomas has posted two straight shutouts against Toronto and Ottawa. Will he get to go for a third in a row against Buffalo on Wednesday, or will Claude Julien turn to Rask, who has enjoyed much greater success against the Sabres in his young career?
The puck drops at 7 p.m. in Buffalo, so check back here throughout the day to see who will get the call in goal and for updates on all the action.
