David Krejci converted a walk-off shootout goal to lift the previously struggling Boston Bruins to a 3-2 victory over the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday.
After both teams had scored during the first shootout round, Tuukka Rask saved Buffalo’s next three attempts to allow Krejci to deliver on his team’s fourth try to claim the contest.
Finn Rask finished with 43 saves for the Bruins (25-22-11), who have now won two in a row after ending a 10-game losing streak.
PHOTO: REUTERS
“Tuukka stood tall for us,” Boston coach Claude Julien told reporters. “He made some big saves and he’s been good for us.”
Rask, who shut out the Montreal Canadiens 3-0 on Sunday, has been in fine form of late having taken away minutes from regular starter Tim Thomas.
“He’s getting an opportunity to play some consecutive games and he’s really taking advantage of it,” Julien said.
Daniel Paille netted two goals in the first period as Boston went up 2-0, but Buffalo answered in the second with a power-play goal from Derek Roy and a Tyler Myers wrister to tie the game.
Neither team was able to break the deadlock in the third or in overtime, taking the game into a shootout.
“We found a way,” Krejci said. “When you lose 10 in a row, it’s in your head, so we can’t think about what happened before.”
The Bruins earned the Eastern Conference’s best record a year ago before falling to the Carolina Hurricanes in the conference semi-finals, but this season they are simply fighting for a playoff spot.
Ryan Miller made 32 saves for the Sabres (32-18-8), who have lost five straight and fell back into a tie with the Senators atop the division.
■SENATORS 3, FLAMES 2
AP, OTTAWA
Jason Spezza scored his 10th goal in his last 10 games late in the second period to send the Ottawa Senators to a victory over the Calgary Flames on Tuesday.
Brian Elliott made 27 saves in his 10th straight start for Ottawa, who won for the 12th time in 13 games.
Tuesday’s other results:
• Lightning 3, Canucks 1
• Hurricanes 4, Panthers 1
• Islanders 4, Predators 3, SO
• Blues 4, Red Wings 3, SO
• Blackhawks 4, Stars 3, SO
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