Sun Mar 30 21:02:57 2008

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Sekera's OT winner keeps Buffalo's faint playoff hopes alive

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Buffalo, NY (Sports Network) - Andrej Sekera's goal 39 seconds into overtime helped the Buffalo Sabres to a dramatic 2-1 victory over the Boston Bruins at HSBC Arena.

Boston attempted to rush the length of the ice, but a costly turnover in the neutral zone led to the end of the contest. Mike Weber poked the disc ahead to Thomas Vanek, who cruised down the left wing and pulled up in the circle. He then held the disc, before a cross-ice pass to Sekera, who rifled a shot past Alex Auld on the blocker side.

Both Weber and Sekera had been playing for Rochester in the American Hockey League less than a month ago, but their late-game heroics have kept Buffalo alive in the NHL playoff race. The Sabres are in the 10th spot, two points behind Washington and five out of the eighth and final spot, where the Bruins, Flyers and New York Rangers are currently in a three-way tie with 91 points.

Toni Lydman also scored and Ryan Miller posted 17 saves for Buffalo, which had dropped three of four coming in. The Sabres have three games left in their regular season.

Dave Krejci had the lone goal and Auld stopped 28 shots for Boston, which had a three-game win streak snapped and failed to improve its playoff standing. The Bruins also have three games left on their slate, with the season finale at Buffalo on April 5.

Boston jumped out to an early 1-0 lead, as Krejci found the back of the net during a two-on-one breakaway, scoring shorthanded at 2:33 of the first period.

The Sabres tied it up on the power play, though, after Boston failed to clear the puck from its own end. The disc was eventually pushed down low to Paul Gaustad, who dished to Lydman at the top of the crease where he rammed it home at 10:15.

The game was a goaltender's showcase the rest of the way, with a desperate Buffalo squad peppering Auld at the start of the second period. The Sabres held a 19-12 advantage in shots on goal at the close of the stanza.

The goaltenders remained perfect in the third, with Auld stopping 10 shots and Miller turning aside all six he faced.

Game Notes

Buffalo is just one season removed from winning the Presidents' Trophy with a league-best 113 points...The Sabres are on the verge of joining the 1969-70 Canadiens and 1992-93 New York Rangers as the only teams since 1967-68 to miss the playoffs the season after finishing atop the regular-season standings...Krejci has three goals and five assists in his last four games...Buffalo's Derek Roy assisted on Lydman's goal, extending his point streak to nine games (4G, 12A)...Lydman scored his first goal in 10 games.