BOSTON -- Alex Tuch and Mattias Samuelsson scored in the first period, Zach Benson added another early in the third and the Sabres beat the Boston Bruins 4-1 on Friday night in Game 6 to advance to the second round of the NHL playoffs for the first time since 2006-07.
Josh Norris added an empty-netter. Alex Lyon finished with 25 saves.
The 4-2 series victory is the latest milestone for Buffalo, which saw the end of its 14-year playoff drought by capturing its first Atlantic Division title. The 2006-07 season was also the last time the Sabres advanced to the second round. They lost in the conference finals that year.
"It's one step in the right direction. That's it," Tuch said.
Buffalo will play the winner of the Montreal-Tampa Bay series in the second round. That series will go to seven games after the Lightning's 1-0 overtime win Friday night in Montreal.
"I think Part A is getting to the playoffs. Part B is trying to have success once you get there," Buffalo coach Lindy Ruff said. "We talked about what a challenge it was going to be to try to take out a good team. And Boston's a good team. ... I thought our guys dug in and gave us a heck of a game tonight."
David Pastrnak scored the lone goal for the Bruins. Jeremy Swayman made 22 stops.
"Buffalo, there's a reason they won the division," Pastrnak said. "A lot of skill and speed that's over there. Their [defense] is very active. So, yeah, they were better."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
