Lucic, Krug help Bruins beat Sabres 5-2
BUFFALO, N.Y. — Milan Lucic had two goals and an assist, and Torey Krug also scored twice to help the Boston Bruins beat the reeling Buffalo Sabres 5-2 on Wednesday night.
Dougie Hamilton also scored for Boston. The Bruins are 6-2 overall and have won their first four road games for the first time since 2010.
Nikita Zadorov and Cody Hodgson scored for Buffalo. At 1-9-1, the Sabres are off to their worst start in franchise history. They are winless in their first seven home games.
By the time Krug netted the second of his two third-period goals, the fans launched into what have become regular “Fire Darcy! Fire Darcy!” chants in reference to Sabres general manager Darcy Regier.
Chad Johnson made 14 saves for Boston, and Ryan Miller stopped 29 shots for Buffalo.
Boston left wing Loui Eriksson had to be helped from the ice after a late hit from Sabres enforcer John Scott in the third period. Scott then fought Adam McQuaid and was given a match penalty.
Boston opened the scoring when Jarome Iginla’s wrist shot deflected off Lucic and through Miller’s legs.
The Bruins doubled their lead 40 seconds into the second period on Lucic’s team-leading fifth goal. Iginla fired a pass from the right boards to Lucic and he tapped the puck in before crashing into the boards behind Miller.
Buffalo’s first goal came from its struggling power play, which improved to 4 for 38 on the season when Thomas Vanek passed across the front of the net, where it hit Cody Hodgson’s right skate and angled past Johnson.
It came 8:21 into the second period and was Buffalo’s 10th shot of the night. The Sabres only managed two shots in the third period and were outshot 34-16 overall.
Zadorov’s first NHL goal, in just his second NHL game, brought the Sabres within one with 4:50 to play in the second period. Zadorov moved on his backhand around Bruins center before beating Johnson to the left side.
Zadorov is the second-youngest player to score a goal for the Sabres, at 18 years, 190 days. Pierre Turgeon was 18 years, 54 days when he scored for Buffalo in 1987.
The Sabres killed off a 5-on-3 power play five minutes into the second period with Henrik Tallinder (high-sticking) and Kevin Porter (boarding) in the box.
NOTES: First-round pick Rasmus Ristolainen was among Buffalo’s scratches, as was Patrick Kaleta who served the sixth game of his 10-game suspension. ... Boston returns home for two games in three nights, beginning with San Jose on Thursday... The Sabres next home game is Monday night when Dallas head coach Lindy Ruff will coach his first game in Buffalo since being fired in February after 15 years with the team.