NHL-Auld makes 44 saves to spark Bruins to win over Sabres

NEW YORK, Dec 10 (Reuters) - New netminder Alex Auld made 44 saves and the Boston Bruins scored twice in 44 seconds during a three-goal first period on the way to a 4-1 road victory over the Buffalo Sabres on Monday.

Auld won his second straight game after moving to the Bruins from Phoenix last week. He stopped 20 shots in the second period and 13 in the third after giving up a first-period goal.

Marc Savard scored an unassisted goal for Boston at 6:29 of the first, and helped make it 2-0 just 44 seconds later when he provided an assist for P.J. Axelsson.

Jaroslav Spacek's powerplay goal cut Buffalo's deficit to 2-1 at 16:01 of the first, but Peter Schaefer gave Boston a 3-1 lead a minute later with an even-handed goal.

Glen Metropolit's third-period score clinched the Bruins' third victory in five games.

Milan Lucic assisted on both Schaefer's and Metropolit's goals.

*The Washington Capitals handed the New Jersey Devils their second straight loss with a 3-2 home victory. Jeff Schultz broke a 1-1 tie by scoring just 53 seconds into the second period. The Capitals made it 3-1 on Quintin Laing's goal with 1:52 left in the period. Olaz Kolzig made 20 saves for the victory.

*Chris Pronger's powerplay goal 3:14 into overtime gave the Anaheim Ducks a 4-3 road win over the Columbus Blue Jackets. Corey Perry scored twice for the Ducks on power plays.

*Tomas Kopecky and Valtteri Filppula scored first-period goals, Filppula's on a penalty shot, to lift the Detroit Red Wings to a 2-1 road win over the Nashville Predators. Chris Osgood made 30 saves.

*Chad Kilger scored twice to help the Toronto Maple Leafs crush the Tampa Bay Lightning 6-1, scoring four goals in the second period. (Writing by Gene Cherry in Salvo, North Carolina; Editing by Ed Osmond)