Senators 5, Sabres 2

BUFFALO, N.Y. - Oleg Saprykin helped the Ottawa Senators further shed their label as underachievers and get a jump on the Sabres.

After Ottawa squandered a two-goal lead, Saprykin snapped a tie 7:41 into the third period of a 5-2 win Thursday in the opener of the Eastern Conference finals. Dean McAmmond had a goal and assist, and Daniel Alfredsson, Dany Heatley and Mike Fisher - with a short-handed tally - also scored for the Senators, who improved to 9-2 this postseason. It wasn't easy, considering the top-seeded Sabres rallied from a 2-0 deficit.