The Buffalo Sabres delivered an impressive performance by defeating the Ottawa Senators 8-4 in a thrilling game at KeyBank Center. This victory marks the Sabres’ first win of the season and showcases the team’s potential to capitalize on their power play opportunities significantly.
The game started with the Senators gaining the upper hand, outshooting the Sabres 3-0 in the opening minutes. However, a penalty against Ottawa’s Zetterlund opened the door for the Sabres, and Jack Quinn capitalized with an unconventional power play goal. His shot, which went wide, ricocheted off the glass and then off the back of Senators’ goalie Leevi Merilainen into the net. This initial breakthrough was crucial for the Sabres, who have struggled offensively recently.
Despite being outplayed in the first period, Buffalo found life on the penalty kill, successfully defending two Ottawa power plays, thanks in part to strong saves from Alex Lyon. The Senators managed to tie the game with Tim Stützle’s first goal, but the Sabres quickly found momentum again.
The second period saw more penalty trouble for Buffalo. A tripping call led to another Ottawa goal when Jake Sanderson converted on a loose puck. Yet, just as it seemed Ottawa would take control, the Sabres, against the odds, scored a shorthanded goal from Ryan McLeod. This marked a turning point — shortly thereafter, Alex Tuch and Jason Zucker scored on consecutive power plays, bringing the Sabres’ total to three power play goals for the night.
As the game transitioned to the third period, the Senators capitalized on early Sabres’ mistakes and quickly narrowed the score, making it a tight contest again. However, the Sabres responded with a flurry of goals, including two from Jack Quinn, which solidified their lead. Jiri Kulich added an empty-net goal for good measure, sealing the Sabres’ win and showcasing the resilience they’ve shown in their season opener.
Players like Quinn, Zucker, and McLeod shone brightly, each notching multiple goals and contributing decisively to the team’s offensive resurgence. Newcomers Zach Benson and Josh Doan both made noteworthy contributions, with Benson recording three assists and Doan assisting on three goals.
This remarkable turnaround served not only as a morale booster for the Sabres and their fans but also demonstrated the team’s potential to perform under pressure. The Sabres are finding their footing and, with crucial upcoming games — including a match against the reigning champion Florida Panthers — there’s a sense of optimism about what lies ahead for this season. With improved teamwork and capitalizing on power play opportunities, the Sabres are poised for a competitive season.