BUFFALO, N.Y., Jan. 10 (UPI) -- Rookie Ales Kotalik posted his third consecutive two-goal game Friday night, scoring with 73 seconds remaining in the third period to give the Buffalo Sabres a 4-2 victory over the Boston Bruins.
After the NHL announced prospective owner Mark Hamister had been granted a second one-week extension to finalize the purchase of the team, the Sabres found themselves in a 2-0 hole 31 seconds into the third period.
But Tim Connolly netted his first goal in 25 games to halve the deficit before Kotalik continued his sizzling pace to hand the Bruins their fifth consecutive loss.
With six points in his previous three games, including two straight two-goal efforts, the 24-year-old Kotalik knotted the contest at 8:07 before scoring his 12th of the season at 18:47 to give Buffalo its first win when trailing after two periods in 20 attempts.
Miroslav Satan capped the scoring with an empty-net goal with two seconds remaining.
Making his fifth consecutive start since being recalled from the minors on Dec. 30, Ryan Miller stopped 21 shots to improve to 4-3-0.
Brian Rolston and Jozef Stumpel tallied for Boston, which fell to 2-11-1 in its last 14 games.
