Ennis’ OT goal wins it for Sabres

Associated Press

PHILADELPHIA

Tyler Ennis scored off a rebound 5:31 into overtime Friday night to give the Buffalo Sabres a 4-3 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers and a 3-2 lead in the first-round series.

Mike Webber fired a slapper that knocked off Michael Leighton’s pad. Ennis swooped in from the right side and scored his second goal of the game.

The Sabres survived after blowing a 3-0 lead and chasing Flyers starting goalie Brian Boucher.

Leighton was flawless until overtime.

Thomas Vanek and Marc-Andre Gragnani also scored in the first period for the Sabres.

James van Riemsdyk, Andrej Meszaros, Danny Briere scored for the Flyers.

The Flyers, the No. 2 seed in the East, have no Jeff Carter, no Chris Pronger and are on their third goalie of the series.

Ryan Miller made 36 saves for Buffalo.

Staked to the early lead, it seemed over for Flyers. Miller has 1-0 victories in the series and appeared to again stump the Flyers. Not for long.

After van Riemsdyk and Andrej Meszaros scored in the second, Briere stuck it to his former team when his backhander off a behind-the-net feed from Mike Richards tied it at 3.

The rally ended there.

Ennis pounded the winner past Leighton, who made only his second appearance for the Flyers this season.

For the second time in the series, the Sabres chased a Flyers goalie after taking a 3-0 lead. In Game 2, it was rookie Sergei Bobrovsky. On Friday, Boucher was yanked after allowing three goals on 11 shots.

Leighton got the call, capping one of the improbable rides of any recent Flyer. He started for the Flyers in the Stanley Cup finals, signed a two-year deal in the summer, then hurt his back and spent all but one game in the minors.

Leighton played his first game in Philadelphia since a Jan. 21 start for the Adirondack Phantoms, the Flyers’ AHL affiliate.