BUFFALO, N.Y. — Oleg Saprykin helped the Ottawa Senators further shed their label as underachievers and get a jump on the rival Buffalo Sabres.

After Ottawa squandered a two-goal lead, Saprykin snapped a tie 7:41 into the third period of a 5–2 win yesterday in the opener of the Eastern Conference finals. Dean McAmmond, Jason Spezza, and Daniel Alfredsson had a goal and assist each, and Mike Fisher added a short-handed tally for the Senators, who improved to 9–2 this postseason.

It wasn’t easy, considering the top-seeded Sabres rallied from a 2–0 deficit on goals by Maxim Afinogenov and Toni Lydman. Buffalo then wilted, allowing three goals — including McAmmond’s empty-netter — in the final 12 minutes. It was the Sabres’ most lopsided loss since a 4–0 defeat against Carolina in Game 4 of last year’s conference finals.

Ray Emery shut the door on the NHL’s most potent offense, stopping 18 shots, including a solid shoulder save on Adam Mair’s snapper early in the third period. Emery also got a big assist from defenseman Anton Volchenkov, who blocked Daniel Briere’s shot from the slot in the second.

Saprykin’s goal came on what began as an innocent play. He was set up after McAmmond intercepted Teppo Numminen’s clearing attempt at the left boards. McAmmond fed a pass into the slot, which Saprykin — with a step on defender Dmitri Kalinin — redirected behind Ryan Miller.

Game 2 is at Buffalo on Saturday.

The Sabres sagged after Saprykin’s goal, and allowed Spezza to score on a power play. He converted a rebound in front to put the game away with 4:12 remaining.

The Senators’ special teams were the key, producing two power-play goals and one short-handed.

Buffalo had a four-game home winning streak snapped after entering having won five consecutive series-openers. The Sabres have lost 13 of 14 best-of-seven series when they drop Game 1.

The Senators have yet to show signs of slowing down this postseason, a considerable switch for a team making only its second conference final appearance despite reaching the playoffs 10 consecutive years.

Ottawa has also lost all three series against Buffalo, including last year, when the Sabres needed only five games to eliminate the East’s top-seeded team in the second round.

Buffalo continued its stretch of inconsistent postseason play, failing to build on the momentum after winning two straight to eliminate the Rangers in Game 6 on Sunday.

Ottawa advanced in the first two rounds by beating Pittsburgh and New Jersey, losing only once in each series.

Buffalo showed life after Alfredsson scored on a slap shot from the left circle to give Ottawa a 2–0 lead 8 minutes in.