Buffalo Sabres forward Thomas Vanek
suffered
a lower-body injury during the first period of Game 2 on
Saturday
afternoon when he was checked into the end boards behind the
Boston
net by Bruins defenseman Johnny Boychuk.
It was later
announced that Vanek will not return in this game.
Vanek,
a two-time 40-goal scorer, has been one of the hottest players in
the
League over the past week. He scored four goals against Ottawa in
the
next-to-last game of the regular season on April 10, then added the
Sabres'
only goal in New Jersey the following day.
Vanek also
opened the scoring in Game 1 against the Bruins as the Sabres
claimed
a 2-1 win in the series opener.