BOSTON (AP) -First, the Bruins were shut out Saturday night. Then they learned their playoff opponent will be a team they haven't beaten in eight matchups this season. 

"Fabulous," defenseman Aaron Ward said. "That's great. It's another challenge presented to this team."

Boston lost 3-0 to the Buffalo Sabres, who got a hat trick from Thomas Vanek and strong goaltending from Jocelyn Thibault. And when Montreal finished its 3-1 win over Toronto later, the Bruins-Canadiens series was set.

Buffalo's win also guaranteed the New York Rangers and New Jersey will meet in another first-round series.

Montreal outscored Boston 39-16 in their eight meetings, seven of them Bruins losses in regulation. But in the last two, Montreal won just 4-2 and then 3-2 in overtime.

"The number that comes to my mind is the last two we played against them," Boston coach Claude Julien said. "I think we played them much better."

Buffalo was the superior team Saturday night when Thibault got his second shutout of the season in his first start since Jan. 21. But the win came too late for the Sabres, who were eliminated from playoff contention on Thursday night in a 3-1 loss at Montreal.

"We spent two days talking about making sure we came to play," Buffalo coach Lindy Ruff said. "That's really not any consolation, winning the game. But winning the game is a positive."

Boston, which clinched a playoff berth with a 2-1 win at Ottawa on Friday night, ended the regular-season with a 4-1-3 record in its last eight games. Last season, the Bruins lost their last six games, went 1-10-1 in their last 12 and missed postseason play for the second straight year.

"Obviously, we didn't play our best game" Saturday, Shawn Thornton said. "I would have liked to have gone into the playoffs carrying the confidence and momentum."

Vanek scored his 34th and 35th goals in the second period. Derek Roy assisted on the first, giving him at least one point in the last 12 games, the longest current streak in the NHL.

Vanek got the hat trick on an unselfish play by Roy, who could have scored easily into an empty net. But he passed to Vanek, skating a few feet to his left, for his 36th goal with 43 seconds left in the game.

"I never look at goals being a successful season," Vanek said. "I've just got to be more consistent." MORE..............