NHL

• Surging Bruins welcome Sabres to Beantown

  
  

  (Sports Network) - The Boston Bruins will aim for their seventh victory in eight games when they welcome the Buffalo Sabres for tonight's Northeast Division clash at TD Banknorth Garden.

  Boston, which leads the Northeast with 26 points, had a five-game winning streak halted by the Eastern Conference-leading New York Rangers on Saturday, but rebounded with a victory in Toronto on Monday night.

  The Bruins have yet to suffer a regulation loss in November, as they've gone 6-0-1, with the lone setback coming in a shootout against the Rangers over the weekend.

  Tim Thomas made 28 saves and withstood a late Toronto surge as the Bruins edged the Maple Leafs, 3-2, at Air Canada Centre. Thomas has been superb this year, going 7-2-3 and leading the league in both goals against average (1.78) and save percentage (.944).

  Phil Kessel, Michael Ryder and Matt Hunwick had the goals for the Bruins, who are 9-1-1 in their last 11 contests. Marc Savard and Milan Lucic added two assists each for Boston.

  Savard is leading Boston with 21 points (6 goals, 15 assists) and the centerman is also tops on the team with a plus-11 rating.

  The Bruins are 5-1-1 as the host this year and are playing the first of two straight in Beantown tonight. Boston, which has won five in a row on home ice, will also welcome Florida to town on Friday before setting out on a two-game swing.

  Buffalo has struggled recently, losing two straight and four of its last five contests. The Sabres have been blown out in their last two outings by a combined score of 11-3.

  After getting slammed by visiting Columbus, 6-1, last Friday, the Sabres were pounded the following night in Pittsburgh by a 5-2 score. Evgeni Malkin had a goal and three assists and Jordan Staal scored twice to lead the Penguins to Saturday's win.

  Ryan Miller was solid through 2 1/2 periods, but wound up surrendering four goals on 24 shots in the loss for Buffalo. The Sabres led 2-1 heading into the third period, but Pittsburgh rattled off four unanswered goals in the final 20 minutes.

  Thomas Vanek kept up his terrific season with another goal while Jason Pominville scored for the third straight game in the setback. Vanek is tied with Washington's Alexander Semin for the league lead in goals with 13.

  The Sabres are 4-2-2 as the visiting team this year and are 0-1-1 in their last two road tests. After tonight, Buffalo will return home to begin a four- game homestand Friday night against Philadelphia.

  Buffalo and the Bruins have played twice already this year with each team winning a game on home ice. The Sabres have won four of the last six tests in the series, but have dropped three of five in Boston.

  11/19 10:45:13 ET