BUFFALO, N.Y. — Boston goalie Tuukka Rask has been hard to beat this season, and he was at his best against Buffalo again on Saturday.

“You start thinking, ‘how are we going to get one by this guy,”‘ Sabres Coach Dan Bylsma wondered aloud.

Boston goalie Tuukka Rask reacts after being hit with a high stick during the first period against Buffalo. Rask made 35 saves and lead to Bruins to a 2-1 win. (Associated Press/Jeffrey T. Barnes)

Rask nearly shut out the Sabres for the second time in a month, keeping them off the scoresheet for 21/2 periods and making 17 of his 35 saves in the third to help the Bruins hold on for a 2-1 win.

“Every team likes to have these kind of goaltenders and a lot of teams do,” Bruins Coach Claude Julien said. “We’re just fortunate enough that he’s been one of those guys that, whenever you slip a little bit, or lose a little bit of momentum, or you’re having a slow start or a tough night, those guys step up and help you win some hockey games.”

Over his last 11 starts, beginning with his 4-0 shutout over Buffalo on Nov. 7, Rask is 7-3-1 with a 1.36 goals-against average and a .947 save percentage. He leads the NHL with a 1.64 GAA for the season.

“I feel good,” Rask said. “I’m seeing the puck well. Guys are doing a great job keeping them on the outside and clearing the rebounds for the most part, so that helps out.”

David Krejci and Patrice Bergeron scored to give Boston a 2-0 lead, and the Bruins improved to 3-0-1 in their last four.

“We’re getting better as a team, we’re getting points and climbing up the standings,” said Krejci, who has 10 points in his last 12 games. “Hopefully we can keep it up.”

Evander Kane scored his first goal of the season for Buffalo. Robin Lehner returned after missing one game with a hip injury and made 32 saves.

The Sabres produced a total of nine goals in their previous two wins, but the NHL’s lowest-scoring team reverted to form from the first 21 games, when star center Jack Eichel was out of the lineup because of a high-ankle sprain.

“First two periods, we had a tough time generating some offensive chances,” Sabres defenseman Cody Franson said. “They kind of just stayed on top.”

Krejci got the Bruins on the scoreboard with 5:50 left in the first when he deflected Brandon Carlo’s slap shot from the point off the right post and into the net.

The Sabres appeared to tie the game late in the second, but replays determined Brian Gionta kicked the puck into the net.

Bergeron made it 2-0 at 7:44 of the third when he knocked in the rebound of David Pastrnak’s missed shot. Bergeron initially hit the puck with his forearm on the left edge of the crease and skated around the net to chase down the puck and flip a backhand past Lehner.

The Sabres answered two minutes later. Sam Reinhart’s feed off the rear wall set up Kane for a wrist shot from the slot that bounced in off Krejci.

Reinhart has five points in his last four games.

NOTES: Bruins forward Matt Beleskey was escorted to the dressing room in the final minute of the first period because of a lower-body injury and did not return. Julien said Beleskey will be evaluated when the team returns to Boston. … Forward Anton Blidh became the seventh Bruin to make his NHL debut this season after being recalled from the minors Friday. … The Bruins scratched forward Jimmy Hayes. Defenseman Zdeno Chara, the Bruins’ captain, missed his sixth straight game because of a lower-body injury. … Buffalo had just three shots on goal in the first period.

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