(Sports Network) - The Buffalo Sabres continue what's been a successful homestand thus far when the Eastern Conference leaders entertain the rival Boston Bruins tonight at HSBC Arena.

Buffalo has won the first three tests of this six-game residency and four in a row overall, a streak which has enabled the club to open up a comfortable 13- point lead on second-place Ottawa in the Northeast Division.

The Sabres have needed extra minutes to earn their two latest wins. After edging Calgary in a shootout last Saturday, Buffalo came through with a 2-1 triumph over Edmonton Thursday on Daniel Briere's goal 1:02 into overtime.

Maxim Afinogenov also scored for the Sabres, but suffered a broken bone in his left wrist later on during the contest. The talented Russian wing, who currently ranks second on the team with 57 points (23 goals, 34 assists), will be sidelined a minimum of six weeks.

Buffalo also lost rookie center Jiri Novotny to a left ankle injury on Thursday and is without two other key performers in defenseman Jaroslav Spacek (broken hand) and forward Paul Gaustad (torn ankle tendon).

The Sabres are an impressive 20-7-2 as the host this season and will try to extend a six-game home win streak tonight.

Buffalo has also won six in a row over the Bruins at HSBC Arena, where Boston hasn't tasted victory since a 3-2 overtime decision on March 11, 2004. The Sabres have taken 12 of the last 14 overall meetings between the divisional foes, including five of six matchups so far this season.

The cellar-dwelling Bruins started off a six-game road trip on a down note, falling to the New York Islanders by a 4-1 count on Thursday.

Glen Murray notched the lone goal of the contest for the Bruins, who had a two-game win streak halted. Tim Thomas stopped 34 shots in defeat.

Boston played without second-leading scorer Patrice Bergeron, who suffered a lower body injury during a 3-0 victory over Edmonton last Saturday. The playmaking center's return to the lineup tonight is questionable.

The Bruins bring a 10-14-2 road record into tonight's clash.