Bruins take tight one over Sabres, 3-1

Jakub Zboril's first NHL goal at 12:31 of the third period stood as the game-winner as the Boston Bruins edged the host Buffalo Sabres 3-1 on Saturday night.

Patrice Bergeron scored the two other Bruins goals and Brad Marchand had two assists.

Keith Kinkaid made 30 saves in his first game as a Bruin after being recalled from AHL Providence on Nov. 2. Buffalo had a 31-30 shot advantage while Boston scored the lone power-play goal.

Tage Thompson scored the lone Buffalo goal, and Craig Anderson made 27 saves.

The Sabres jumped out to an early lead at 5:17 as Thompson took a loose puck from the opposite blue line, through defenders and beat Kinkaid and slipped in a short-handed goal.

Despite scoring just one goal, it was a rather dominant first period for Buffalo as it finished with a 10-5 shot advantage. The Bruins only had three shots through 15 minutes and had a strong chance when Charlie Coyle hit the goalpost with one minute to play.

The score remained steady for nearly the entire second period thanks to Kinkaid's strong work thwarting the hosts. Buffalo did, however, have a chance to double its lead when JJ Peterka rang iron on a power play with 7:49 left in the middle frame.

The Bruins drew even with 1:09 left in the middle frame as Bergeron slotted home a backhander after Marchand's shot from the circle created a rebound in the slot.

Kinkaid stood tall early in the third, denying Jack Quinn on a quick shot from the low slot less than five minutes in.

His work allowed the Bruins to take a 2-1 lead at 12:31 of the third. Zboril beat Anderson with a wrist shot from above the left circle, taking a feed from Tomas Nosek as the trailer on the play.

Boston's star line made it a two-goal game at 18:11 as Bergeron finished off Marchand's feed.