Patrice Bergeron, Bruins hold off Sabres

BUFFALO -- Patrice Bergeron scored 7:44 into the third period, and Tuukka Rask made a season-high 35 saves to give the Boston Bruins a 2-1 win against the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center on Saturday.
Bergeron gave the Bruins a 2-0 lead with his fourth goal, first since Nov. 19. He followed the puck when it popped into the air and fell to the left of Sabres goalie Robin Lehner, and tapped it in by the far post.
"I'll definitely take it, I know that," Bergeron said. "It was one of those, I think I've talked about that the last few games, where we weren't getting the second and third chances around the net, and I thought that was a perfect example there where you keep pushing, keep trying to find the puck, and ultimately it bounced our way."

WATCH: All Bruins at Sabres highlights
Evander Kane made it 2-1 at 9:12 of the third period. Kane received a pass from behind the net from Sam Reinhart and took a shot that went off Rask's pads. It was Kane's first goal in 13 games this season. Rask made 17 saves in the third to help Boston hold on.

"I think every team likes to have these kind of goaltenders, and a lot of teams do, we're just fortunate enough that he's been one of those guys that whenever you slip a little bit or lose a little bit of momentum or you're having a slow start or a tough night, those guys step up and help you win some hockey games," Bruins coach Claude Julien said. "He's been like that since the start of the season and has been great."
The Bruins (14-10-1) have won two straight games and three of four. The Sabres (9-10-5) lost for the first time in three games since center Jack Eichel returned to the lineup Nov. 29 in a 5-4 win against the Ottawa Senators.
David Krejci gave the Bruins a 1-0 lead with 5:50 left in the first period. Krejci tipped a shot from defenseman Brandon Carlo off the crossbar for his fourth goal.
Sabres captain Brian Gionta nearly made it 1-1 with 2:50 left in the second period, but the goal was waved off because Gionta kicked the puck past Rask. The official's call was confirmed by video replay.
Sabres defenseman Brendan Guhle made his NHL debut. He was recalled from Prince George of the Western Hockey League on an emergency basis Friday and replaced defenseman Josh Gorges (foot).
Bruins forward Anton Blidh made his NHL debut. He was recalled Friday from Providence of the American Hockey League.
Bruins left wing Matt Beleskey left in the first period with a lower-body injury. Beleskey was checked by Sabres defenseman Taylor Fedun late in the period and hobbled back to the bench. Julien said Beleskey will be evaluated by Bruins doctors before determining the severity of the injury.

Goal of the game

Kane's first goal was helped out by a quick pass from Reinhart that caught the Bruins defense and Rask off guard.

Save of the game

Rask made a cross-crease diving save on Cody Franson after he received a cross-ice pass from Eichel 2:37 into the third period.

Highlight of the game

Bergeron's goal in the third period came courtesy of hard work and a little bit of good luck after the puck bounced off his glove to the side of the net where he was next to touch it for the goal.

Unsung moment of the game

With 8:20 left in the third period, Krejci nearly had a breakaway against Lehner, but the play was broken up when Guhle skated back quickly and broke up the scoring chance. Guhle played 16:20 and had four shots on goal.

They said it

"We had to come back and play a little harder in the third, which we did, and managed to get that second goal to give us a bit of a cushion. It's a good thing that happened, because they came back and scored one. But at the end of the game, I thought our group did a good job of protecting the lead there in the last five or so minutes." -- Bruins coach Claude Julien
"They played a pretty sound, systematic game. First two periods we had a tough time generating some offensive chances. They kind of just stayed on top." -- Sabres defenseman Cody Franson

Need to know

Krejci and Backes each has two goals and an assist in the past four games. … Reinhart has a four-game point streak with two goals and three assists. … Kane's goal was his first since March 22 against the Carolina Hurricanes.

What's next

Bruins: Host the Florida Panthers on Monday (7 p.m. ET; NHLN, SN, TVA Sports, NESN, FS-F, NHL.TV)
Sabres: At the Washington Capitals on Monday (7 p.m. ET; CSN-DC, MSG-B, NHL.TV)