Sabres reveal sharp edge, push Bruins to Game 6

The result: a 4-1 Boston loss before 18,690 at HSBC Arena, the most one-sided of the five games. While the Sabres, desperate to keep their season alive, did everything their coaches asked — offensive contributions from their go-to guns, energy from the youngsters, gum-’em-up defense in front of Miller — the Bruins did nothing to remind their followers last night was a playoff game. Instead, the Bruins showed all the intensity of a dog-day night in February.

“We finally came to play in the third period,’’ said Johnny Boychuk, who scored the lone Black-and-Gold goal at 17:30 of the third. “That just wasn’t enough. You have to play 60 minutes to get a playoff win.’’

It was a startling showing from a Boston squad that had competed at peak form in Games 1 through 4 and was rewarded with a 3-1 series lead. Then again, emotional engagement has been an issue for the 2009-10 Bruins. Just when you think they have things rolling, they turn in a flat-tire performance.

“It’s disappointing any time you lose. Simple as that,’’ said coach Claude Julien. “Are we going to hang our heads all the way back to Boston and feel sorry for ourselves? I don’t think so. They didn’t feel sorry for themselves and they battled back. That’s what we’re going to do. We plan on doing the same thing. That’s why it’s a best-of-seven. We’ve got to work on winning the next one.’’

Even before the opening puck drop, the Sabres showed they weren’t going to be pushed around. As Patrice Bergeron leaned in for the draw, Paul Gaustad delivered a jolt to his opponent. Gaustad was thrown out of the faceoff, and Bergeron won the draw from Tim Connolly, but the Buffalo forward sent a message that might have been felt later in the game.

“Bergeron always gets in first on every draw,’’ Miller said. “He always gets in first. He always ducks his head. And he always crowds. That’s his way of establishing. Paul’s a good centerman, too. He knows how to get some space. Sometimes you’ve got to take it.’’