BUFFALO, N.Y. — With Chris Drury and Thomas Vanek scoring clutch goals, the Buffalo Sabres didn't need to play an entire game to beat the New York Rangers for a second consecutive time.
On Friday night, all it took was the third period.
Erasing 40 minutes of offensive frustration, Drury and Vanek scored 10 minutes apart, rallying the Sabres to a 3-2 win to take a 2-0 lead in their Eastern Conference semifinal series.
"The timing was pretty good," Drury said, who scored 24 seconds into the period to tie the game at 2. "Out of the break, we talked about having a good 5 minutes. We got one right away and it energized us."
Vanek then scored his second straight game-winner, converting a scramble in front with 9:49 remaining.
Coach Lindy Ruff could sense the boost the Sabres got from Drury's goal.
"It's great for us and does harm to them for their psyche," Ruff said.
Rangers captain Jaromir Jagr knows how important this win was for the Sabres.
"They probably think it's over," Jagr said. "But you never know. A series can change on one play."
The Rangers, who lost 5-2 on Wednesday, need to regroup quickly with the best-of-seven series shifting to New York for Game 3 on Sunday.
The Sabres won because their best players pulled through in the clutch — and that included goalie Ryan Miller, who stopped 31 shots, including all 11 in the final period.
CANUCKS 2, DUCKS 1 (2 OT): At Anaheim, Calif., Roberto Luongo made 43 saves and Jeff Cowan scored 7:49 into the second overtime to help Vancouver tie its Western Conference semifinal series against Anaheim at one game apiece.
Cowan scored from a sharp angle with a shot that found a crack of daylight between Jean-Sebastien Giguere's right skate and the post after Anaheim's Rob Niedermayer lost the puck behind the net to Vancouver center Trevor Linden.
The goal ended an NHL record shutout streak by Giguere. The goal was the first he has ever allowed in a postseason overtime game, a run of 190 minutes, 50 seconds. Giguere finished with 46 saves.
The teams traded goals in the second period, with Markus Naslund scoring for Vancouver at 6:30 of the period and Travis Moen answering for Anaheim 4:31 later.
The series shifts to Vancouver for games on Sunday and Tuesday.
NHL playoffs
Friday's results
Sabres 3, Rangers 2
Buffalo leads series 2-0
Canucks 2, Ducks 1 (2OT)
Series tied 1-1
Today's games
Sharks at Red Wings, 1 p.m.
San Jose leads series 1-0
Senators at Devils, 6 p.m.
Ottawa leads series 1-0