Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - The Buffalo Sabres scored four-straight goals in the second period, including a pair of Jason Zucker power play goals, to help vault themselves to their first win of the 2025-26 season, 8-4, over the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday night at KeyBank Center.
The Sabres scored their first power play goal of the season, snapping an 0-for-11 streak to begin the year, thanks to a fortunate bounce off of a missed scoring chance.
Jack Quinn was credited with his first goal of the season. It was also the first lead of the year for the Sabres with their 1-0 advantage over Ottawa.
The Senators could not capitalize on either of their power play chances, but scored the equalizer with just under four minutes remaining in the first period. Tim Stutzle was able to tip in a shot from Fabian Zetterlund past Alex Lyon to make the score 1-1.
Buffalo was credited with just three shots on goal in the first period, compared to nine for Ottawa.
The Senators were able to take advantage of a loose puck in the Sabres' crease, and kept chipping until it went in the net for a 2-1 lead. The goal was not awarded initially, but after a discussion by the officials, it was deemed a goal.
Buffalo challenged for goaltender interference and lost the challenge, upholding the goal and sending the team to the penalty kill.
However, Ryan McLeod and Zach Benson helped create a turnover in the offensive zone while on the penalty kill to even the score again at 2-2.
The goal was McLeod's first of the season, with Benson picking up an assist in his first game of the season. The goal helped Buffalo kill off both penalties.
Minutes later, Alex Tuch was able to slam in a second chance opportunity after a shot from the point to help the Sabres re-take the lead. Jacob Bryson took the shot that eventually resulted in the go-ahead goal. Bryson and Josh Doan received the assists.
The two goals came less than four minutes apart to give Buffalo a 3-2 advantage.
The Sabres' second power play goal of the game doubled the lead over Ottawa to 4-2, thanks, in part, to a pass by Rasmus Dahlin from the side of the net to create the chance.
Zucker was in the right spot just minutes later for his second power play goal of the game. This time when the puck deflects off of him after a shot from just inside the blue line.
Josh Doan took the shot that resulted in the goal, helping the young forward pick up his second assist of the game.
Zucker's two goals in just under two minutes extended Buffalo's lead to 5-2.
The two teams traded back-to-back goals early in the third period to produce four goals in less than 3:30 of game play.
Shane Pinto's fifth goal of the season came just 40 seconds into the third period, and was followed by Lars Eller's first goal of the season. The two goals less than two minutes apart trimmed Buffalo's lead to 5-4.
However, Sabres head coah Lindy Ruff called timeout, and his team responded immediately with a pair of goals of their own.
First, it was McLeod scoring his second goal of the game to extend the lead back to two goals, 6-4.
Just over 40 seconds later, Peyton Krebs and Quinn converted on a 2-on-1 chance to advance the Buffalo lead to 7-4.
Krebs was credited with the only assist on the goal, his first point of the season. Quinn scored his second goal of the night, and first at even strength to restore the three-goal advantage.
Buffalo added any empty-net goal with just minutes to go in the third period to extend the lead to 8-4. The goal was Kulich's first of the season.
Thompson recorded his second assist of the game, while Benson recorded his fourth assist of the night.
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SCORING RECAP
First Period:
BUF: 8:01 - Jack Quinn (1) PPG (Bowen Byram, Rasmus Dahlin)
OTT: 16:09 - Tim Stutzle (1) (Fabian Zetterlund, Jordan Spence)
Second Period:
BUF: 6:46 - Ryan McLeod (1) SHG (Zach Benson, Owen Power); 10:17 - Alex Tuch (1) (Jacob Bryson, Josh Doan); 11:46 - Jason Zucker (2) PPG (Rasmus Dahlin, Zach Benson); 13:43 - Jason Zucker (3) PPG (Josh Doan, Tage Thompson)
OTT: 3:58 - Jake Sanderson (1) (Ridley Greig, Dylan Cozens)
Third Period:
BUF: 2:32 - Ryan McLeod (2) (Alex Tuch, Josh Doan); 3:17 - Jack Quinn (2) (Peyton Krebs, Zach Benson); 16:44 - Jiri Kulich (1) ENG (Tage Thompson, Zach Benson)
OTT: 0:40 - Shane Pinto (5) (Jordan Spence, Jake Sanderson); 2:15 - Lars Eller (1) (Nick Cousins, Jordan Spence)
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Blue Star Home Services Three Stars of the Game:
1.) Ryan McLeod - BUF
2.) Jason Zucker - BUF
3.) Josh Doan - BUF
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What's next:
The Sabres conclude their quick three-game homestand on Saturday afternoon by hosting the Florida Panthers at KeyBank Center. The puck drops just after 1 p.m. on the flagship home of the Sabres Radio Network - WGR Sports Radio 550. Pregame coverage starts at 12 p.m. with Brian Koziol.