Third-period rally lifts Sabres to win over Bruins

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- When Tyler Myers is at the top of his game, he can be a difference-maker for the Buffalo Sabres.

That's exactly what he was Friday night.

Myers had a goal and an assist in the third period to lead the Sabres to a 4-2 comeback victory over the Boston Bruins at the First Niagara Center. Buffalo rallied from a 2-1 deficit with three goals in the third period.

"I thought his energy in the game was maybe as good as I've seen this year," Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said. "So that's a big plus for us because we know what he means on the offensive side for us."

Cody Hodgson, Christian Ehrhoff and Drew Stafford also scored for the Sabres, who improved to 6-8-1. Ryan Miller had 30 saves.

Dougie Hamilton and Rich Peverley scored for the Bruins, who fell to 8-2-2. Anton Khudobin had 22 saves for the Bruins.

Myers jump-started Buffalo's comeback 2:03 into the third period on his second goal of the season. After Khudobin stopped Jochen Hecht's shot on a two-on-one rush, the rebound fell to Myers and his backhand found the open net, tying the game at 2-2.

Myers also set up Buffalo's insurance goal from Hodgson with 8:15 remaining. He rushed up the ice, connecting with Hodgson on a backhand pass after skating past the Boston end line.

It hasn't been an easy start to the season for the 23-year-old. Myers, projected to be one of Buffalo's top defensemen, was recently a healthy scratch in two games for the Sabres. But he was skating with a purpose against the Bruins, and it showed.

"It's confidence," Myers said. "It's coming back. Still a lot to go."

Buffalo welcomed the jolt of adrenaline from its defenseman after a listless second period. The Sabres were outshot, 17-6, in the second period, and received a loud barrage of boos upon leaving the ice afterward.

"I think the things we did with the puck were a lot better," Ruff said of his team's third-period turnaround. "There was a tremendous amount of pace to the game ... in the second period we missed too many plays, we didn't connect on some passes ... but I thought we rebounded with good puck movement in the third and went out and got ourselves a win."

Ehrhoff scored the game-winner with 10:58 remaining. His high wrist shot from the slot beat Khudobin after the Bruins were unable to clear the puck out of the Boston zone.

This was not the way the Bruins wanted to begin their five-game road trip, which is their longest road trip of the season. Boston had not lost in regulation since Jan. 31 in a 7-4 loss to the Sabres. Both of Boston's regulation defeats this season have come at the hands of the Sabres.

"They took their game to another level and we didn't match it," Peverley said.

The Sabres took a 1-0 lead 3:24 into the game on Stafford's first goal of the season. Stafford ended his lengthy goal drought after receiving a fine pass from Tyler Ennis, who was stationed behind the Boston net.

Boston tied the game at 1-1 before the end of the period on Hamilton's first NHL goal. With Miller down and out after some strong stick-handling by the Bruins, Hamilton blasted the puck into the open net with 2:04 remaining in the first.

The Bruins took a 2-1 lead early in the second period due to a lucky bounce in the Buffalo end. Hamilton shot the puck off the boards, far right of the net, and the puck caromed right to Peverley in the slot, who scored at the 2:29 mark.

Myers tied the game early in the third period, starting Buffalo's comeback.

The Bruins outshot the Sabres 32-26 overall, but the Sabres outshot Boston 10-3 in the final period.

"They played a good third period," Khudobin said. "We played good tonight, something just didn't go our way."

NOTES: Sabres defenseman Andrej Sekera left the game with 10:16 remaining with a charley horse. Sekera was injured after receiving a check along the boards from Boston forward Shawn Thornton. Said Ruff: "He'll probably miss a little bit of time." ... Jay Pandolfo, Aaron Johnson and Lane MacDermid were scratched by the Bruins. Mike Weber, Cody McCormick and T.J. Brennan were Buffalo's scratches. ... This was the first game of a five-game road trip for the Bruins, their longest road trip of the season. Boston's next game is at Winnipeg on Sunday. ... This was the third of five meetings between the two teams this season. The Bruins won the last game, 3-1, in Buffalo on Feb. 10. ... This was the 266th game all-time between Buffalo and Boston. Heading into Friday night's game, Buffalo led the series with a 115-110-40 record.