Boston Bruins at Buffalo Sabres

Charlie Coyle scores twice as Bruins beat Sabres 4-1 to end 4-game skid

Mason Lohrei and Morgan Geekie also scored for the Bruins, who ended a four-game losing streak. Jeremy Swayman made 25 saves.

“As a group, obviously, we didn’t like how we ended the break,” forward Jake DeBrusk said. “Had a couple days to reset and came out with a good effort tonight, had some good goaltending and just rolled with it.”

Erik Johnson scored for the Sabres. Devon Levi made 21 saves.

Special teams played a big role in the outcome as the Bruins scored on their first three power-play chances. Meanwhile, the Sabres went 0 for 6 with the man advantage.

“Bottom line is special teams, no doubt,” Johnson said. “They scored when they needed to and they capitalized on their chances, especially on the power play. That was the difference.”

Lohrei opened the scoring 4:19 in, sending the rebound of a shot past Levi.

Coyle stretched the lead to two goals, scoring on a power play with 6:18 left in the first period. Jake DeBrusk got the puck behind the Buffalo net and spotted a wide-open Coyle in front of the Buffalo crease. Coyle then buried a one-timer.

Coyle scored his second power-play goal of the game 4:18 into the second, when his shot deflected off Johnson’s skate into the net.

“We always want to get out to a lead if you can, and then it’s up to us to push that lead, build in our game, play the right way,” Coyle said. “We’ve just got to keep building on our game.”

Geekie made it 4-0 with 6:16 left in the second on another power-play goal for the Bruins. After Charlie McAvoy’s shot bounced off the end boards, Geekie fired the puck toward the net and a sprawling Levi was unable to make the save. It was Geekie’s fourth goal in seven games.

Johnson got the Sabres on the board 5:11 into the third, scoring on a slap shot from the right circle.

Tage Thompson, Buffalo’s No. 1 center, missed the game due to personal reasons.

UP NEXT

Bruins: Host the New Jersey Devils on Saturday.

Sabres: Host the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday.

BOS wins series 2-1