Football
Associated Press 16y

Marco Sturm scores with 52:3 seconds left in overtime and Bruins beat Sabres 4-3

BOSTON -- Bruins coach Claude Julien said the team has a new
motto: 'Be Determined -- Play To Win.'

He made a sign with the saying, and placed it atop the locker
room entrance. Based on Boston's play Thursday night, it appears
the team is buying into it.

Marco Sturm scored in overtime and added an assist, and the
Bruins held off two comebacks to earn a 4-3 victory over the
Buffalo Sabres.

"It occurred to me during our West Coast trip earlier in the
season," Julien said. "That was a message to our club to play to
win no matter who you play against because we've had trouble
protecting leads in the past."

Sturm beat Ryan Miller and scored with 52.3 seconds remaining
after he redirected a shot from Aaron Ward, who had gently flipped
the puck toward the net.

"I was standing in front of the net and got a lucky tip,"
Sturm said. "We have a lot of big division games coming up so this
was a good start."

Said Sabres coach Lindy Ruff: "I think you feel bad anytime a
bad goal goes in."

The Bruins were playing in their first game without Patrice
Bergeron, who sustained a concussion and broken nose after being
checked into the boards from behind by Randy Jones last Saturday
against Philadelphia.

Tim Thomas made 27 saves for Boston, who beat the Sabres for the
third time in its last 11 home games against Buffalo.

Buffalo's Paul Gaustad scored a power-play goal to tie the game
at 3 when he tipped the puck out of the air after a pair of slick
passes from Jaroslav Spacek and Ales Kotalik with 11:42 remaining
in regulation. Spacek and Kotalik each had two assists for the
Sabres.

Marc Savard gave the Bruins a brief 3-2 lead 59 seconds after
Buffalo's Brian Campbell had tied the game. Savard pulled up on a
2-on-1 and beat Miller short side 3:08 into the third period.

Glen Metropolit, who also assisted on the game-winner, gave the
Bruins a 1-0 lead with a power-play goal at 2:07 of the second
period. Phil Kessel increased the lead to 2-0 at 7:39 of the second
when his shot from the right face-off circle squirted through the
legs of Spacek and Miller.

"It didn't seem like they had an identity last year," said
Metropolit, who played with St. Louis last season. "The coaching
staff has been trying to instill an identity so that we are a hard
team to play against."

Maxim Afinogenov eventually cut Boston's lead in half at 2-1
with 2:29 left in the second period after he tapped in a pass from
Thomas Vanek. Afinogenov has 33 points in 34 career games against
the Bruins.

"It seemed like it took a while until we got going," Sabres
defenseman Brian Campbell said. "The winner was a fluky goal and
they had some bounces on that play."

Thomas allowed more than two goals for the first time this
season.

Buffalo took 14 out of a possible 16 points against Boston last
season and Boston last beat Buffalo in regulation Mar. 25, 2006.

Game notes
Red Sox owners John Henry and Tom Werner as well as
president Larry Lucchino brought the 2004 and 2007 World Series
trophies to center ice before the game. ... Boston played its first
of nine consecutive games against Northeast Division opponents. ...
Goalie Jordan Sigalet was recalled from Providence to replace Manny
Fernandez after he suffered a knee strain in practice for Boston.
... Sabres captain Toni Lydman temporarily left the game in the
second period after taking a shot by Metropolit in the face.

^ Back to Top ^