Ottawa, Ontario (WGR 550) - A four-goal third period lead nearly evaporated for the Buffalo Sabres, but the team was able to escape Ottawa with a 6-4 victory over the Senators on Tuesday night at the Canadian Tire Centre in Canada's capital.
The Sabres got off to a hot start, as the team netted a pair of goals during the opening period.
First, it was Jeff Skinner who stayed as hot as a fire cracker to start his 2023-24 campaign. The opening tally was Skinner's third goal in as many games.
Later on, the blue and gold used a deflection from the slot to extend their lead to 2-0. Connor Clifton's point shot was re-directed off the stick of Zemgus Girgensons, which evaded Senators goalie Anton Forsberg.
It was more of the same in the second for the Sabres, as the team extended its lead to three only four minutes in. From a tough angle beyond the goal line, Skinner netted his second goal of the game off the padding of Forsberg.
Later in the frame, Ottawa ended Buffalo's run of goals at with just under seven minutes to go. Defenseman Jakob Chychrun's wrist shot eluded Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and pulled the Senators to within two, 3-1.
The Sabres got right back on the saddle before period's end, though, and extended their lead all the way up to four goals.
Goal No. 4 came courtesy of a man-advantage tally from winger Alex Tuch, who scored his first goal of the season off a deflection from Rasmus Dahlin's shot from the point.
The Sabres' fifth goal snuck in under the wire with another deflection goal, this time from Tage Thompson, who registered his second goal of the year off the original shot from defenseman Owen Power.
For a majority of the third period of play, it felt like cruise control for the blue and gold. However, the Senators turned up the heat in a big way with their sticks and their fists.
In the last 4:25 of regulation, Ottawa scored three times, and it started with free-agent acquisition Vladimir Tarasenko. He was then followed by forwards Josh Norris and Mathieu Joseph as the Senators hit the Sabres with a trio of quick goals to make it 5-4 with 62 seconds to play.
Fortunately for the Sabres, Thompson was able to fan the flames with a shorthanded, empty-net goal inside the final minute of play. His second of the night drew the Sabres back up by two as the clock ticked down on a wild third period in Ottawa.
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GAME RECAP
Scoring Summary:
First Period:
BUF: 8:06 - Jeff Skinner (4) (Alex Tuch, Casey Mittelstadt); 11:20 - Zemgus Girgensons (2) (Connor Clifton, Kyle Okposo)
OTT: NONE
Second Period:
BUF: 4:04 - Jeff Skinner (5) (Dylan Cozens, Casey Mittelstadt); 17:08 - Alex Tuch (1) PPG (Rasmus Dahlin, Tage Thompson); 18:48 - Tage Thompson (2) (Owen Power, Henri Jokiharju)
OTT: 13:14 - Jakob Chychrun (3) (Travis Hamonic, Vladimir Tarasenko)
Third Period:
BUF: 19:37 - Tage Thompson (3) SHG/ENG (Unassisted)
OTT: 15:35 - Vladimir Tarasenko (3) (Thomas Chabot, Mathieu Joseph); 18:38 - Josh Norris (3) PPG (Drake Batherson, Tim Stutzle); 18:57 - Mathieu Joseph (3) (Ridley Greig, Jake Sanderson)
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Penalty Summary:
First Period:
BUF: 19:03 - Kyle Okposo (Tripping - 2 min.)
OTT: 16:36 - Brady Tkachuk (Interference - 2 min.)
Second Period:
BUF: 0:27 - Tage Thompson (Hooking - 2 min.); 4:34 - Connor Clifton (Cross-checking - 2 min.)
OTT: 16:50 - Travis Hamonic (Holding - 2 min.)
Third Period:
BUF: 16:50 - Alex Tuch (Interference - 2 min.); 16:50 - Alex Tuch (Fighting - 5 min.); 17:23 - Dylan Cozens (Slashing - 2 min.); 17:23 - Dylan Cozens (Roughing - 4 min.); 17:23 - Dylan Cozens (10-minute misconduct); 19:24 - Zemgus Girgensons (Tripping - 2 min.)
OTT: 16:50 - Brady Tkachuk (Instigating - 2 min.); 16:50 - Brady Tkachuk (Fighting - 5 min.); 16:50 - Brady Tkachuk (Game misconduct); 17:23 - Vladimir Tarasenko (Roughing - 4 min.); 19:58 - Erik Brannstrom (Tripping - 2 min.)
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Losi and Gangi Three Stars of the Game:
1.) Jeff Skinner - BUF
2.) Alex Tuch - BUF
3.) Tage Thompson - BUF
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What's next:
The Sabres will next visit the New Jersey Devils on Friday at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. Faceoff is set for 7 p.m. ET with pregame coverage starting at 6 p.m. ET on the flagship home of the Sabres - WGR Sports Radio 550.