The Bruins got back to playing competitive hockey Friday. There were no glaring defensive blunders, no absentminded gaffes with the puck, no shortage of effort.

But, as is often the case when playing a generally solid game, a few missed scoring chances, a few too many penalties and some tough play by the opposing goaltender presented too much of a challenge to overcome.

Henrik Tallinder and Thomas Vanek scored first-period goals for the Sabres and Ryan Miller made 30 saves to make those two tallies stand up as Buffalo held on for a 2-1 victory over the Bruins at HSBC Arena. (Recap.)
 
Although the loss extended the Bruins’ current winless steak to six games (0-5-1), the outcome certainly could have been different. If the B’s can play with the same passion in the weeks ahead, the wins, points and even a return to a playoff position should follow.

But that is not to say the Bruins have solved their problems. Far from it. They now have just 10 goals in their last six games, averaging 1.7 per contest over that stretch.

“We were better. Unfortunately, right now we are looking at the end results,” coach Claude Julien told reporters after the game. “Our whole game was much better than it has been lately, so hopefully it gets a little better and we don’t dig ourselves a hole like we did tonight.”

The B’s have little time to get their goal-scoring house in order.  They’ll face off against the Los Angeles Kings at TD Garden on Saturday night. The young and hungry Kings have won four in a row – three on the road – and they were waiting and resting in Boston while the Bruins skated in Buffalo.

Tuesday, Alex Ovechkin and the high-octane Washington Capitals come to town. The Canadiens arrive on Thursday and stellar goalie Roberto Luongo and the Vancouver Canucks await next Saturday.

The Bruins need goals, wins and points. But their effort Friday provided some indication they are committing to securing those items that have been escaping them. Here are three things that emerged in their return to play Friday.

A FEW LOUSY MINUTES UNDID FOUR DAYS OF FOCUS

After a brutal 5-1 loss in Carolina on Sunday, the Bruins had four days to do some soul searching while regrouping at practice. With a renewed focus and Marc Savard and Byron Bitz back in the lineup, there was a sense the B’s were ready to deliver a signature game.

But hopes for taking control early in Friday’s contests were squashed as Tallinder whisked a wrist shot from the right circle past Tuukka Rask four minutes into the game.

Despite the setback, the Bruins skated with some jump, driving to the net and creating several good scoring chances in the first period. But while the B’s were able to back off the Buffalo defense, Miller stood his ground and made 13 saves in the opening period to keep Boston off the scoreboard.

The B’s also had trouble staying out of the penalty box and paid the price when Vanek swiped in a rebound on Buffalo’s third power play in the first period. His score gave the Sabres a 2-0 lead, and provided the ultimate margin of victory

SAVARD, LUCIC AND SATAN MESHED WELL

The Bruins had gone 1-6-1 with Savard out of the lineup with a knee injury.  In his return Friday, Savard centered a line with Milan Lucic on the left side and Miroslav Satan on the right. The trio showed some good chemistry in the opening minutes as Savard feathered a pass from the left circle to Satan for a prime scoring chance in the slot.

In the second period, the Bruins couldn’t have drawn up a better transition goal. After Rask made a sharp right pad save, Zdeno Chara tracked down the puck and sent it from the Bruins zone to Savard as he broke down the right wing. Skating inside the Buffalo blue line, Savard surveyed his options and hit Lucic with a slick pass in the high slot. Lucic initially bobbled the puck, but recovered to fire a sharp shot over Miller’s left shoulder to draw Boston within a goal.

It was not enough offense to provide a win Friday, but the goal certainly offered a promising sign that the Bruins may have an effective top line in the works.

“It’s one game. They weren’t bad, they created some stuff but again, we can say they created stuff but we need to finish,” Julien said. “With the chances we had tonight we should have had more than that.”

THE DIFFERENCE WAS BETWEEN THE PIPES

Looking to shake off whatever has been ailing the Bruins lately, Julien opted to start Rask instead of Tim Thomas. While Rask was generally solid, Tallinder’s shot that gave Buffalo an early lead four minutes into the game should have been stopped. The goal was not ridiculously soft, but Tallinder’s shot, whether through a screen or not, probably fell into the category of a save that should have been made.

At the other end of the ice, Miller was pushing aside 30 Bruins shots and showcasing the form that has him to status as the consensus frontrunner to take home the Vezina Trophy awarded to the NHL’s best goalie.

“Give their goaltender credit for playing well and standing on his head, which he has done pretty well all year for these guys,” said Julien. “For us it was a matter of trying to bury some of those chances and we didn’t do it.”