BUFFALO, N.Y. — Lindy Ruff was so certain his Buffalo Sabres would return to Carolina for Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals, he didn't worry about leaving his cell phone charger in Raleigh earlier this week.

When the hotel offered to mail it to Buffalo, Ruff said not to bother — he'd pick it up himself.

Ruff and the Sabres will be back for the decisive game Thursday, after co-captain Daniel Briere scored 4:22 into overtime to seal Buffalo's 2-1 win Tuesday.

"It's going to be fun," Ruff said. "Every game has been tight and these guys just keep pushing through. ... You stand back there and know you are going to get the effort, which is pretty special."

The Sabres rallied despite facing elimination for the first time this postseason and after dropping their previous two games. They won despite squandering a 1-0 lead on Bret Hedican's goal scored with 4 minutes left in regulation.

And they persevered despite being down two regular defensemen and then losing Teppo Numminen (hip flexor), who played only 4:13, and watched the rest of the game from the bench.

"It's been our M.O. all year, just a fearless bunch of guys," Chris Drury said. "We always seem to find a way. It's certainly no different tonight. Just our poise, too."

It's now the Hurricanes' turn to respond.

"We can't sulk and hang our heads," defenseman Glen Wesley said. "There was no pressure on us tonight. I don't think there's any momentum until the puck drops."

Buffalo is 1-4 when playing Game 7, while Carolina is 0-3. The Sabres' lone Game 7 win came in 1997 against Ottawa, which was also the only time they've rallied from a 3-2 series deficit.

The winner advances to play Edmonton in the Stanley Cup final, which will open at Buffalo or Carolina on Monday.