Satan a good investment for Bruins

BOSTON -- Miroslav Satan spent three months waiting for an NHL team to come calling. The Boston Bruins are undoubtedly glad they did.

The 35-year-old came up with the second playoff OT goal of his career when he scored 7:41 into the second overtime on Wednesday night to give the Bruins a 3-2 win over Buffalo and a 3-1 series lead over the Sabres in their Eastern Conference Quarterfinal.

Satan, 35, a Stanley Cup winner a year ago with the Pittsburgh Penguins, was out of work until he signed with Boston on Jan. 2. In 38 games, he had 9 goals and 14 points and was plus-8.

"I thought about it and for some reason I can't explain the Bruins seemed to be a team where I could have a good feeling. I had a good feeling about it and I just hope it can continue," Satan said after his first overtime goal since 1999 -- when he scored midway through the second extra period to give Buffalo a win over Ottawa.

Satan said he was so tired after the game that he couldn't remember the entire power-play shift that produced the game-winner, nor could he remember goalie Tuukka Rask's pass to Michael Ryder, who made a beautiful pass to set up Satan's goal.

Satan took the puck about 30 feet in front of Ryan Miller and a little east of center. He gave Miller a quick fake, moved a little more to his right and spun a backhander between a frozen Miller and rookie defenseman Tyler Myers, who looked like big tree falling in a forest as the puck split him and the goalie.

Satan knew he had Miller beat before he shot.

"I think I had something to do with it," he replied. "I tried to sell him that I was shooting, and then he came out and I moved to the side and had room."

Satan broke in with the Edmonton Oilers in 1995, went to the Sabres in 1997 and was with them until 2004; he then spent three seasons with the New York Islanders and one with the Penguins. He has 363 goals and 735 points in 1,050 NHL games, as well as . He's also been an effective playoff performer, notching 18 goals and 47 points in 78  games.

Satan's name is sprinkled liberally in the Sabres' record book. He ranks seventh all-time with 224 goals, sixth with 74 power-play goals and sixth with 33 game-winners for the Sabres.

"Experience helps," Satan said. "It's good when you've been through these overtime situations. It's better to have experience than not have it and try to deal with a new situation."