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Vanek's hat trick trumps Hamel's as Sabres edge Senators

Sep 23, 2006 - 2:33 AM OTTAWA (Ticker) -- Denis Hamel recorded a natural hat trick in the second period for the Ottawa Senators. Thomas Vanek completed a regular one for the Buffalo Sabres.

After Hamel scored three times in less than four minutes in the middle session, Vanek completed his own hat trick midway through the third, giving the Sabres a 4-3 preseason victory over the Senators.

The fifth overall pick by Buffalo in the 2003 draft, Vanek opened the scoring with a power-play goal at 2:41 of the first period and made it 2-0 at 2:27 of the second. A former Sabre, Hamel took over from there, scoring an even-strength goal at 6:42, cashing in on a man advantage at 9:14 and netting a shorthander 50 seconds later to notch a natural hat trick and give the Senators a 3-2 edge.

However, co-captain Chris Drury forged a tie less than four minutes afterward while on the power play and Vanek converted during a 5-on-3 at 9:19 of the third to put Buffalo ahead for good.

Derek Roy recorded a pair of assists and Martin Biron made 26 saves for the Sabres, who held a 13-4 advantage in shots in the final period.

Russian prospect Alexei Kaigorodov set up a goal for the Senators.

Ottawa's Joe Corvo left the game late in the third period with a fractured right foot. The defenseman, who was hit with a slap shot by Ales Kotalik with 4:28 remaining, went immediately to the locker room and will be out indefinitely.