For the fifth time this year, Sabres forward Thomas Vanek scored the first goal in the game to give Buffalo a 1-0 lead over the Bruins after the first period.
But that was hardly the story for the first twenty minutes.
With 6:48 left in the period, Bruins forward Milan Lucic took the puck through the neutral zone and found himself one-on-one with Sabres goaltender Ryan Miller. Miller left the net by about 15 feet and Lucic did what he would do to any other player--he barreled into him, knocking Miller to the ice, and sending his helmet flying.
He was called for the minor charging penalty, but the Sabres weren't able to convert on it. That was the only opportunity the Sabres had to take another goal on the man-advantage.
Meanwhile, the Bruins had three different opportunities to try and convert on the power play, but they were without luck. This is only the second game in November the Bruins haven't scored on the power play in the first period, and only the first time in five games they haven't scored at all in the first frame.
They will have another chance going into the second period, with 1:09 left in the power play from last period after Ville Leino was called for hooking.
Miller has stopped 12 shots so far for the Sabres, whereas Tim Thomas has made six saves so far.