The last-place Buffalo Sabers are on a 13-game losing streak

Morgan Geekie scored a game-winning power play goal with 1:45 left in regulation and the Boston Bruins beat the Sabers 3-1 on Saturday night, handing Buffalo its 13th straight loss.

The Sabers probably should have been the more tired team after Friday’s home loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs, but they let the Bruins play for long stretches, especially in the second period. In the end, however, Buffalo couldn’t avoid another loss that marred a solid start to the season.

According to ESPN Research, this is the third-longest single-season winning streak for the Sabers in franchise history, following an 18-game streak in the 2020-21 season and a 14-game streak in the 2014-15 season. The Sabers will look to end the lull on Monday when they take on the New York Islanders.

“I thought we deserved better,” Buffalo coach Lindy Ruff said after the loss. “We didn’t quite manage the next move offensively. But when things go bad, things go bad.”

Charlie Coyle scored in the first period and Brad Marchand added an empty-net goal for the Bruins, who improved to 10-4-1 under interim coach Joe Sacco.

JJ Peterka scored a goal for Buffalo, which hasn’t won since a win at San Jose on Nov. 23.

Just as a power play was coming to an end, Geekie scored a one-time shot from the slot for the winner.

Coyle came out of the penalty box after his minor ended for hooking. He received a clearing pass from Nikita Zadorov and went on a breakaway. James Reimer made a stop with his left skate, but while he was on the backside, Coyle poked the puck in. Reimer stopped 16 shots.

Peterka hit Joonas Korpisalo with a wrist strike over his right shoulder and tied the game at 1-1 towards the end of the second period. Korpisalo made 19 saves.

“If you look at how we handled the puck, the details in the game, the power play that was scored,” Ruff summed up the performance. “Like I said, we deserve better.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.