"Buffalo's Thomas Vanek, last seen in the first period of Saturday's Game 2 of the Bruins-Sabres series skating off the HSBC Arena ice, placing no weight on his injured left leg, is not expected to dress tonight for Game 3. Vanek, who led the Sabres with 28 goals during the regular season, is hoping to return later in the series.

"I'm still hoping for [tonight] even though I know, deep down, it's a stretch,'' Vanek told the Buffalo News. "I would say Wednesday then. If it's not Wednesday, then I don't know. Maybe the next game. But the good part is that I feel like — and we feel like — I'll be back for the series.''

Vanek was injured at 13:39 of the first during a hooking call on Johnny Boychuk. The Bruins defenseman hooked Vanek with a backhand, but failed to slow the driving right wing. Boychuk then switched to his forehand and slashed Vanek on the right leg. The slash dropped Vanek and sent him sliding into the end boards."