BUFFALO, NY – The Boston Bruins rallied from two separate deficits to pull into a tie with their series with the Buffalo Sabres. Buffalo claimed an initial 2-0 lead and then went ahead once again after the Bruins rallied to score to tie the game at two apiece. In a strange turn of events the offensively challenged Bruins scored three unanswered goals to win by a 5-3 count.
Tyler Myers and Matt Ellis opened the scoring. Myers’ shot was deflected through a crowd and defeated Boston netminder Tuukka Rask. Ellis’s goal was a solid backhander which avoided Rask as the puck went into the net just inside the post to the right of Rask.
It appeared the game was over as the Bruins, who scored the fewest goals out of any team in the Eastern Conference this season, were down by two on enemy ice. However Boston accomplished the comeback against one of the finest goaltenders in the league by exploding for five goals over the game’s last 40 minutes of play.
Two players who have had down years led the charge. Bruins forward Michael Ryder who scored 18 goals this year, down from 27 last season, and defending Norris Trophy winning defenseman Zdeno Chara each notched a pair of goals while Mark Recchi bagged an empty-net goal to round out the scoring.
Ryder and Chara each bagged their first goals of the game to bring the Bruins into a tie at two aside. However, Jason Pominville appeared to set the Sabres on their way to victory when his late second period goal put Buffalo ahead.
Chara and Ryder then scored the tying and eventual game-winning goals in the final period before Recchi iced the contest with his empty-net score.
Note: Buffalo had been 31-0 after leading after the second period during the season and the first game of this series.
Contact Tom.Schettino@prohockeynews.com
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