BUFFALO – During a break in Thursday’s second period, Thomas Vanek and Jason Pominville were told to stand alongside Ryan Miller, their close friend and former Sabres teammate, as he addressed the crowd on the video boards.

Vanek said he figured he and Pominville would serve as Miller’s “hype guys” as he spoke.

When Miller began talking, it became clear what was happening.

“All of a sudden, the video shows up,” Vanek said during the second intermission of the Sabres’ 5-3 win over the Montreal Canadiens in KeyBank Center.

That video introduced Vanek and Pominville as the newest members of the Sabres Hall of the Fame.

Both of them were shocked.

“I didn’t expect that coming,” Pominville said. “I guess our wives kept it pretty secret for a little bit. But yeah, really thrilled and honored. … It’s pretty surreal.”

The former captains and high-scoring wingers will be inducted next season.

Pominville and Vanek, both of whom were rookies 20 years ago, visited Thursday for the reunion of the beloved 2005-06 Sabres team that reached the Eastern Conference final.

Vanek ranks fifth in franchise history in goals (254) and 11th in points (497).

Meanwhile, Pominville ranks eighth in franchise history in games (733), 10th in goals, (217) and eighth in assists (304) and points (521).

– Sabres coach Lindy Ruff called the collision inside the Montreal blue line between 6-foot-4, 240-pound Canadiens defenseman Arber Xhekaj and winger Jason Zucker in the second period Thursday “a purposeful accidental.”

“If you want to analyze it that way,” he said. “He knew what he was doing and he got him pretty good.”

Zucker stayed on the ice in pain before skating off and returning to the game.

– The Sabres, who had Friday off, close a five-game home stand against the Minnesota Wild this afternoon.