NHL | Senators frustrate Sabres in overtime

BUFFALO - Joseph Corvo scored with a bouncing 40-foot shot 4 minutes, 58 seconds into the second overtime, lifting the Ottawa Senators to a 4-3 win over the Buffalo Sabres in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals last night.

Ottawa overcame its own history - winning the first two games of a series for the first time - and fought off the disappointment of Daniel Briere's tying goal with 5.8 seconds left in regulation that forced overtime.

Daniel Alfredsson, Wade Redden and Mike Fisher also scored for the Senators, who improved to 10-2 this postseason and moved within two wins of their first trip to the Stanley Cup finals. Ottawa pulled out the victory after spotting the Sabres a 2-0 lead 7 minutes in.

The next two games of the best-of-seven series are in Ottawa tomorrow and Wednesday. Ottawa leads the series, two games to none.

Jason Spezza had three assists, including setting up the winner. Spezza beat Chris Drury on a face-off to the right of the Buffalo net and drew the puck back to Corvo. Stepping into the middle, Corvo blasted a knuckler, that bounced once and skipped past Ryan Miller.

The top-seeded Sabres continued their uncharacteristic stretch of inconsistent play after a 5-2 loss on Thursday. And they lost last night's game by producing an unlikely first after going 40-0 in the regular season and 6-0 this postseason when holding a two-goal lead.

Thomas Vanek and Jochen Hecht also scored for the Sabres, who have never advanced after losing the first two games. Buffalo was 0 for 7 on the power play and is 0 for 12 in the series.

The Senators outplayed the Sabres over the final two periods, and appeared to take control when Redden capped a three-goal rally by scoring on a one-timer during a two-man advantage with 16 seconds left in the second.

The Senators then limited the Sabres to six shots through the first 19 minutes of the third, but couldn't pull the victory out in regulation.

Briere lifted fans in the sold-out arena to their feet when he tied the game, converting a loose puck that dribbled to him at the right post.