Sabres at Bruins
THE STORY: As they approached the All-Star break, the Buffalo Sabres were fighting to avoid the cellar in the Eastern Conference. Fast-forward a few weeks and the Sabres are making a spirited run to claim the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Buffalo continued its late-season surge with a 3-2 home win over Carolina on Wednesday, putting the team within two points of eighth-place Winnipeg entering Thursday's game at Northeast Division-leading Boston. The Bruins will be looking to win back-to-back games for the first time in nearly two months.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, MSG (Buffalo), NESN (Boston)
ABOUT THE SABRES (31-28-8): Buffalo improved to 7-1-1 with its overtime win Wednesday, a victory spiced by contributions from marquee players Jason Pominville and Thomas Vanek and a long-dormant power play. Leading scorer Pominville delivered the game-winning tally in OT and also had an assist after being held off the scoresheet for six games. Vanek also had a goal and an assist to end a six-game goalless drought. Meanwhile, the Sabres scored twice on the man advantage for the first time in 2012.
ABOUT THE BRUINS (39-23-3): Boston avoided a third straight defeat with a 5-4 win in Toronto on Tuesday, getting two goals apiece from Tyler Seguin and Jordan Caron. The Bruins have been unable to generate any momentum in their last 25 games, going 11-12-2 and seeing their lead cut to three points in the Northeast – although they have three games in hand on Ottawa. G Marty Turco officially cleared waivers Wednesday and joined the team to provide a backup for Tim Thomas after Tuukka Rask was injured.
OVERTIME:
1. Sabres G Ryan Miller has made 10 consecutive starts (7-1-2). He beat Boston twice last month, allowing only one goal.
2. Seguin has four goals and two assists in a six-game points streak. He also has four goals in eight career games vs. Buffalo.
3. Boston has not won two straight games since Jan. 10 and 12.