Sabres cling to division lead, want to win more battles vs. Red Wings

The Buffalo Sabres have lost their last two games in overtime as they prepare to host the Detroit Red Wings on Friday night.

But the Sabres are still in first place in the Atlantic Division, three points clear of the second-place Tampa Bay Lightning, and appear to be a lock to break their 14-season playoff drought.

"I don't think we were very good (Wednesday). I don't think we played our game," Jason Zucker said after Buffalo lost 4-3 in overtime to the visiting Boston Bruins. "I think we tried to be a little bit too fancy. We didn't keep it simple. It's nice to get a point out of it, especially when you're not at your best. It would've been nice to defend the lead a little bit better than we did."

Zucker potted two goals, Zach Benson also scored and Tage Thompson had two assists for the Sabres. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 27 saves but allowed the tying goal with six minutes left in regulation and the Bruins' winner 38 seconds into OT.

"Obviously it's a big point and could have been a big two points again," Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said. "Crazy bounce (on the Bruins' tying goal), but sometimes the crazy stuff happens to you when you don't play well. Even though we played a good third period, sometimes the payoff is something bad will happen to you and it happened."

Defenseman Conor Timmins returned after missing 38 games with a broken leg and had two shots, two hits and two blocked shots in 15:30 of ice time.

Ruff indicated that Buffalo's resolve was not good enough.

"You're playing a team that's battling as they can to stay in the playoff picture," Ruff said. "They won more battles. I don't think that has anything to do with sluggish. That has a lot to do with willpower and making sure you win your battles."

The Red Wings have fallen out of a playoff position by going 6-9-3 since Jan. 27 and 2-4-1 since March 10. Detroit has also lost its last two, the most recent being a 3-2 decision to the visiting Ottawa Senators on Tuesday night.

"We were a little bit sluggish for whatever reason," Red Wings coach Todd McLellan said. "We put pucks in the areas we wanted them, but then we weren't winning the battles to give ourselves a chance."

Captain Dylan Larkin scored a goal in his return from missing seven games with a lower-body injury.

"It was good to be back out there with the guys," said Larkin, who played for the first time since March 6. "But the room is mad, because this was a big game. We have 11 games left and we have to be better than this."

Dominik Shine also scored and John Gibson stopped 18 shots.

Alex DeBrincat had an assist to extend his point streak to seven games (two goals, nine assists).

Detroit signed defenseman Jacob Bernard-Docker to a two-year contract extension with an average annual value of $1.6 million on Wednesday.

Bernard-Docker has four assists and is plus-5 in 55 games this season. He also has 18 penalty minutes. He recently has been paired with Albert Johansson as the team's third defensive duo.

--Field Level Media