Bruins Strengthen Playoff Chances With 3-1 Victory Over Sabres

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Boston, MA (Sports Network) - Dennis Wideman scored the go-ahead goal early in the third period, as the playoff-hopeful Boston Bruins earned a 3-1 win over the Buffalo Sabres at TD Garden.

Miroslav Satan and Zdeno Chara also scored for Boston, which moved into a sixth place tie with Montreal in the Eastern Conference with 87 points. The Canadiens lost, 5-2, at Carolina on Thursday.

Tuukka Rask was stellar between the pipes for the Bruins, stopping 31-of-32 shots.

Boston is a point ahead of eighth-place Philadelphia, which plays a home-and- home series against the New York Rangers (84 points) to close the season. Boston hosts Carolina Saturday afternoon before ending the season at Washington.

Derek Roy had the lone goal for the Sabres, who clinched their first Northeast Division title since 2006-07 with Tuesday's 5-2 victory over the New York Rangers. Patrick Lalime started in place of Ryan Miller, who was given the night off, and turned aside 31 shots.

Buffalo sits in third place in the East with 98 points, one ahead of fourth place Pittsburgh and one behind New Jersey for second. The Devils lost their game at Florida Thursday, while the Penguins were ahead by a hefty margin against the Islanders in the third period.