Boston -- Matt Ellis scored twice -- his first multi-goal game of his career -- and Ryan Miller stopped 29 shots to lift the Buffalo Sabres over the Boston Bruins on Saturday 4-2.
A couple of quick first-period goals gave the Sabres an early 2-0 lead. Ellis struck first with his second goal of the season. Henrik Tallinder blasted a shot from the point that was only slowed down by Bruins netminder Tim Thomas. Ellis crashed the net and was able to shovel home the loose puck which sat behind Thomas in the crease.
Only minutes later, the Sabres added a power play goal courtesy of Thomas Vanek. The Buffalo forward, parked in front of the Boston net, deflected a Derek Roy shot past Thomas to put the Sabres up by two just a little over five minutes into the game. Boston cut the lead in half on the power play when Marc Savard found Phil Kessel, who then fired it past Miller for his 24th goal of the season.
Ellis added his second goal of the game a little over three minutes into the second period, taking a pass from Ales Kotalik and catching Thomas out of position to make it a 3-1 Buffalo lead. The Bruins pulled to within one yet again later in the period when Sean Thornton, known mostly for his fists rather than his scoring touch, floated a weak shot that fluttered over the glove of Miller and into the net. The Sabres went up 4-2 in the second when Andrej Sekera shot one toward the net that deflected off of Paul Gaustad, who was credited with the goal; his 4th of the year.
Max Afinogenov left the game early with a lower-body injury and did not return.
Next up, the Sabres return home for a Tuesday night matchup against the Ottawa Senators. Hear the play-by-play with Rick Jeanneret and Harry Neale at 7:00 p.m. on the Buffalo Sabres Radio Network.
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