RECAP
OTTAWA (AP) -Thomas Vanek scored three goals to offset Denis Hamel's natural hat trick for Ottawa as the Buffalo Sabres beat the Senators 4-3 on Friday night in an exhibition game.
Hamel, a 29-year-old left wing battling for a roster spot with the Senators after leading the AHL in goals last season with 56, scored three straight times in a 3:22 span of the second period. He began the run with an even-strength goal, added a power-play score and finished the hat trick with a short-handed goal.
Chris Drury pulled Buffalo (2-1-0) even with a power-play goal in the third, and Vanek completed the scoring on a power play with 9:19 left.
Ottawa dropped to 1-2-0 in exhibition play.