Sabres Edge

We've come to the end of the first period in HSBC Arena, where the Sabres hold a 2-0 lead over Boston. Derek Roy, reunited with Thomas Vanek and Drew Stafford, has both goals, though he didn't need much help on either of them.

He opened the scoring with 10:42 left when stole the puck from an unsuspecting David Krejci, who was turning to clear a rebound. Roy stepped in and slapped the puck past goalie Tim Thomas before Krejci evern heard his skates getting close.

Roy made it 2-0 with 1:23 left when Thomas stayed low and Roy's shot when high.

The Sabres are wearing their vintage third jerseys for the first time, and judging from the number of them already in the stands (and judging by the text-messages from friends), people like them.

SECOND PERIOD

8:16 p.m.: Score is 3-1 after Matt Hunwick and Jochen Hecht trade goals. Hecht's goal comes short-handed, giving the Sabres their first while killing a penalty since the third game of the season.

Fans are sticking with the tradition of booing Zdeno Chara, but odds are good Milan Lucic will soon join the hated list. The 6-foot-4 tank has blasted more than his share of Sabres, including Thomas Vanek.

8:23 p.m.: Vanek just missed a shift and is not on the bench.

8:34 p.m.: Ryan Miller, bumped several times, gets rid of puck in anger after teammate Patrick Kaleta is called for charging for running into Thomas.

8:39 p.m.: Period ends with Sabres holding their 3-1 lead. No return by Vanek, though.

8:49 p.m.: Vanek has a "lower-body injury and may return."

THIRD PERIOD

9:04 p.m.: Vanek back, but fans are furious after Roy misses his chance at hat trick when Zdeno Chara trips him on a breakaway -- with no penalty called.

9:20 p.m.: White-knuckle time again as Boston cuts it to 3-2. But Sabres going on power play with 6:29 left.

POSTGAME

The Sabres finally have a reason to give thanks. A 3-2 win over Boston will make Thursday's meal taste better. Roy has points in five of the past six games, and Hecht scored his first goal since breaking his middle finger.

"It's such a great, great feeling," Hecht said of snapping the five-game losing streak. "It's never easy, especially when you have a losing streak like we do. You put yourself in a tough position, but tonight we finally came together as a team."

Said Roy on being tripped by Chara with no call: "I don't know how you can get a more blatant trip on a breakaway than that."

---John Vogl