As if they already haven’t learned it already, the Hub is fortunate to have Tuukka Rask between the Bruins’ pipes.

Getting the nod against the rival Sabres on Saturday afternoon in Buffalo, Rask once again was in top form, particularly in the second and third periods. With a flu-ridden Patrice Bergeron and Zdeno Chara missing his sixth straight game, Rask was calm and poised as usual all afternoon making a season-high 35 saves – 32 in the second and third periods – keeping Jack Eichel and the Sabres offense in check.

“He’s been amazing all year,” Bergeron told NESN’s Sarah Davis postgame about Rask’s performance following the 2-1 B’s victory. “His positioning and the way he’s always square to the puck, it makes it hard for anyone to score on him and he definitely keeps us in every game that he plays.”

Tuukka Rask goes post to post for one of his season-high 35 saves. pic.twitter.com/88o1XRVAqx

— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) December 3, 2016

The best part about Rask’s game? His rebound control was superb despite facing 36 shots and the Bruins defense helped clear the puck preventing the Sabres from second and third chances. Here is what else we learned as the Black and Gold have taken points in four straight games.

Two items checked off the daily to-do list

Staying out of the penalty box is a talking point that’s preached in every NHL dressing room. When committing a penalty, the second item on the to-do list is to kill the opponents power play and build off that during the course of 60 minutes.

The Bruins did both on Saturday committing three penalties through 60, and when they had to kill penalties, they did that flawlessly and set the tone against the Sabres and their seventh-ranked power play.

Two of those kills in particular came in a timely fashion. The first came early in the opening stanza with Brandon Carlo in the box for interference. In the Sabres’ first opportunity with the man advantage, the Bruins shorthanded unit gave up a grand total of zero shots on goal. That allowed the Bruins to gain momentum, dominate puck possession in the opening 20 minutes and earn a 1-0 lead thanks to David Krejci’s fourth of the season at 14:10.

With 6:29 left in regulation and Austin Czarnik in the box, the Bruins got another timely kill and crucial saves from Rask to hold on to that slim one-goal lead.

“Well it’s good because we knew that Buffalo had a real good power play and they thrive on that to score some goals,” head coach Claude Julien told Jack Edwards and Andy Brickley. “Our penalty kill did a great job here tonight. We needed to do that and we also needed to stay out of the box as much as we could and we did that also.”

Another solid night for the Bruins penalty kill, which sits in the top five at a success rate of 85.9 percent through 25 games.

Bldih’ing Black and Gold

Before the game, Bruins fans were wondering how to pronounce his last name. As things progressed, they saw the energy that he provided. Skating on the fourth line with Dominic Moore and Ryan Spooner, Anton Blidh turned in a very solid effort tallying three shots on goal and four hits in 10:12 of ice time.

From his pursuit of the puck to the gritty battles along the boards, the Gothenburg, Sweeden native did all that was asked of him from Julien and the Bruins coaching staff.

An obvious review gives Bruins a break

It didn’t take long for the officials to waive off a potential tying goal in the second period. After initially calling it a good goal and then waiving it off, Brian Gionta’s distinct kicking motion was confirmed that kept the Bruins ahead 1-0 at a time where the Sabres tilted the ice in their favor.

For all the reviews that have gone against the Bruins, at least seemingly, they can at least breathe a sigh of relief.

Bergeron fights through

He may not be getting the offensive stats that he usually does but Bergeron’s importance still shows on a nightly basis. Whether it’s winning faceoffs or establishing a presence in all three zones, the Bruins can still rely on Bergeron even if he doesn’t light the lamp on a consistent basis.

Making the trip to Buffalo despite being under the weather, Bergeron wasn’t at 100 percent, nor was he his usual self – especially after only winning 34 percent of his faceoffs during his 18:56 of ice time – but kept battling and was eventually rewarded with his fourth of the season to give the Bruins a 2-0 lead in the third period.

Persevering through an early injury and goal droughts, the three-time Selke Award winner hopes it all eventually pays off by the end of the season.

The game-winner from No. 37. 🚨 pic.twitter.com/HMvqlpXPPu

— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) December 3, 2016

Another man down

The Bruins’ win in Buffalo did come at a cost, however. After colliding knees with Taylor Fedun, Matt Beleskey left the game in the first period and did not return causing Julien to once again have to adjust his lineups with a man down. According to Steve Conroy of the Boston Herald, Beleskey will be examined upon returning to Boston.

Beleskey to be examined in Boston. Could be out for a little while, but we’ll see

— steve conroy (@conroyherald) December 3, 2016