After two periods in Buffalo: Kings 2, Sabres 2

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The Sabres pulled even at 1-1 just 37 seconds into the second period. Defenseman Andrej Sekera somehow walked in from the blue line and got deep on the left side before sending the puck on net. With a crowd of players -- and goaltender Jonathan Bernier -- clustered by the near post, Patrick Kaleta deflected the puck inside the far post.

A turnover by the Sabres in their own zone, created by the tenacity of Peter Harrold, enabled the Kings to take a 2-1 lead.

Play was turning back toward center ice when Harrold forced the giveaway and fed a pass to Wayne Simmonds, who whipped a shot past Ryan Miller at 8:25. The goal was Simmonds’ first in eight games, an unusually silent stretch for the energetic winger.

Buffalo tied the score again, during a power play gained when Jack Johnson was serving an elbowing penalty.

Derek Roy was stationed at the left point but moved toward the middle of the ice before unleashing a blast on net. Thomas Vanek was parked in front of the net with his back to Bernier and deflected the puck, which changed directions too close to Bernier for the goalie to adjust. The goal was initially awarded to Roy, at 15:22, but it was eventually awarded to Vanek after the official scorer reviewed a tape of the goal.

Through two periods the Kings had a 27-14 edge in shots in a hard-hitting game.

More later at www.latimes.com/sports

Helene Elliott, in Buffalo