The Sabres have squandered two-goal leads six times this season, and they were coming off a game in which they blew a third-period lead in a 5-4 shootout loss at Florida on Thursday.
Brad Marchand, whose overtime goal won the opener, and Milan Lucic stretched the Bruins' lead in the final period.
Vanek staked the Sabres to a 1-0 lead in the second period, converting a nice pass from Tyler Ennis on a power play.
The Devils were coming off a 4-3 overtime loss to Montreal in which they erased a 3-1 Canadiens lead in the third period.
The Bruins, who had led the series 3-1, were on the brink of elimination when Toronto stormed to a 4-1 lead in the third period.
Diamonds had other chances to extend their lead in the opening period but twice Michael Barron got in saving tackles to deny the home side.
Butler made a 3-pointer to open the fourth quarter and make it a one-point game, but Chicago never could grab the lead in the final period.
The Devils had a great chance to expand the lead in the third period when Florida defenseman Colby Robak was given a major penalty for cross-checking Tim Sestito.
It was tough enough for the Penguins to erase their own deficit, but squandering a two-goal lead in the third period is certainly out of character for one of the Stanley Cup favorites.
Derek Stepan and Derick Brassard staked the Rangers to the lead in the first period, and Henrik Lundqvist stopped 18 shots for New York, the second New York team this week to clinch a playoff spot on Carolina's ice.
The histrionics near the end punctuated a dominant performance by the Devils that tied the series at 2. (Game 5 will be Wednesday at Madison Square Garden.) Zach Parise had two goals and an assist, and Bryce Salvador and Travis Zajac gave New Jersey a two-goal lead in the first period that felt insurmountable.
When the Bruins built a 2-0 lead early in the second period on power-play goals by Nathan Horton and Torey Krug (the third goal in the series for the rookie defenseman), the Rangers could have been forgiven for going gentle into the off-season.
Sale, despite the presence of Hodgson, simply lacked the guile to overturn the lead they conceded in the first period.
United took the lead once again in the first period of extra-time when the luckless Boyd deflected Dillon's cross into his own net.
Loktionov stretched the lead to 4-1 early in the second period, taking advantage of another bad pinch to lead a counter attack.
New York continued its onslaught in the second period, pushing the lead to 4-0 just 1:53 in when Brassard scored his first with the Rangers on a power play.
The Devils tied the game after Loktionov was able to find the puck during a scramble in front of Bishop, but Greening regained the lead, scoring with just 17 seconds remaining in the period.
Iraqis have been in the security lead for a substantial period of time, and that progress continues.
Dwyer gave the Hurricanes a 2-1 lead with 1:31 left in the period, deflecting Jay Harrison's point shot.
But Crosby and his line were on the ice when the Islanders reclaimed the lead with 37 seconds left in the first period.
On Monday, he scored two goals and four points in the third period to lead Carolina to 6-4 win over the New York Islanders.
They extended their lead to 2-0 in the second period when Rich Peverley blew a slapshot past Leafs goalie James Reimer, quieting the raucous home crowd.
Callahan nearly gave the Rangers the lead just after the midway point in the period when he darted through the Winnipeg zone past defenseman Grant Clitsome and in on Pavelec.
On Monday, he scored two goals and four points in the third period to lead Carolina to 6-4 win over the New York Islanders that set the stage for the successful conclusion to road trip.
Roneeka Hodges' 3 with 6:24 left in the period made it 42-41, giving Tulsa its first lead since early in the game.
The All Blacks, who had never before failed to reach the last four in a World Cup, came roaring back to regain the lead when a period of pressure ended with No. 8 Rodney So'oialo forcing himself over in the 62nd minute.
The usual whitening agent in cosmetics of the period, lead acetate, is not.
Williams capped a 14-0 run with a steal and layup that cut Washington's lead to nine in the final minute of the period.
That ensured Button was able to emerge in the lead after the first pit stop period and thereby extend his advantage sufficiently to win the race.
According to Merrill's annual holiday forecast, low-end dollar stores (up 8%) and high-end luxury merchants (up 7.2%) are predicted to lead the pack in the November-December 2006 period.
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