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In the Buffalo Sabres' first six games this season, left wing Thomas Vanek had scored three goals. Against the Boston Bruins Thursday night, Vanek matched his season total.
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Vanek's hat trick-in addition to two assists-fueled the Sabres' 7-4 win at TD Garden, which also gave the Bruins their first regulation loss of the new season.
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Despite defeating the New Jersey Devils 2-1 in a shootout last Tuesday night, the Bruins surrendered four third-period goals and three second-period scores against Buffalo.
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"I didn't expect this type of game because it wasn't our type of game," said Bruins coach Claude Julien after the loss. "It was really a disappointing, I guess, loss in a way, where our guys defensively were just totally, totally out of it."
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After a quiet first period, in which neither team scored, the second period featured three goals from both teams. The Sabres tallied the first goal on a one-timer from center Cody Hodgson to Vanek just one minute and 38 seconds into the period. The Bruins responded with three unanswered goals, two of which came off the stick of left wing Brad Marchand and the other from center Rich Peverley.
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Peverley's successful wrist shot came at 5:12, and Marchand's first goal of the period was scored just 2:31 later. On the goal, Marchand brought Sabres goalie Ryan Miller down to his knees when he switched from his forehand to his backhand. Marchand picked up his second goal on a wrist shot 3:11 later.
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Despite the Bruins' offensive attack in the second period, the Sabres answered with two goals of their own. With 3:14 remaining, Vanek scored his second goal of the night off a deflection from defenseman Christian Ehrhoff. 
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The Sabres tied the game just 1:39 later on a wrist shot from center Tyler Ennis. Ennis was left alone on the right-hand side of the net, and a sprawling attempt from Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask could not stop the shot.
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Although Bruins center David Krejci's goal at 1:45 in the third period gave the Bruins a 4-3 lead, the Sabres answered back just 47 seconds later on a goal from defenseman Tyler Myers. Hodgson then scored on a one-timer from Vanek at 6:54.
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Vanek completed the hat trick with 1:11 remaining in the game when he skated on a breakaway. Vanek stopped right at Rask in the crease and extended the lead to two goals. Buffalo added an empty-net goal from right wing Jason Pominville with 14 seconds left.
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Tuesday's game was an exciting encounter between the Devils and the Bruins. After a first period that featured little goalmouth action and an impressive display from New Jersey reserve goalkeeper Johan Hedberg (27 saves). Right wing David Clarkson gave the Devils a 1-0 lead 8:30 into the second period. 
It appeared that the Devils were about to put the game to bed.
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However, Bruins right wing Nathan Horton slotted home the equalizer, finally beating Hedberg with 4:05 left in the game to send the game to overtime. In the extra session, there was no scoring, resulting in a shootout. 
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Right wing Tyler Seguin scored first for the Bruins, before New Jersey left wing Ilya Kovalchuk scored. Center Patrice Bergeron was stymied by Hedberg; Devils center Patrik Elias was then stopped by Rask. Horton and center Travis Zajac both had efforts saved, resulting in "sudden death" rounds. In the third round of sudden death, Marchand scored. Rask then saved defenseman Marek Zidlicky's effort, resulting in a dramatic 2-1 final score.
While a bit unhappy with the performance, Julien was quick to hail the importance of picking up the 2-1 victory.
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"We've played some pretty good hockey so far," said Julien. "And the games that weren't quite as good as we should have been, we found a way to win. And to be a good team you've got to be able to do that."
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The Bruins next play at the rival Montreal Canadiens tomorrow at 7:30 p.m.