In the last game before the Christmas break around the NHL, the Buffalo Sabres come up short in a 3-1 loss to the Ottawa Senators on Monday night at the Canadian Tire Center.
Buffalo's lone goal in the loss came from forward Zemgus Girgensons, who was able to re-direct an Evan Rodrigues pass toward the front of the Ottawa net.
The Sabres were able to get 44 shots to the Senators net, but goalie Craig Anderson stole the show with 43 saves to earn the win.
The game started off as a back-and-forth affair, and Sabres goaltender Linus Ullmark was up to the challenge for most of it. However, it was the Senators who struck first thanks to Jean-Gabriel Pageau, who found himself wide-open in front of the net close to the end of the period. After a turnover by Sabres defenseman Jake McCabe in the corner, Brady Tkachuk fed an uncovered Pageau, who let go of a one-time snap shot over the left shoulder of Ullmark.
The Sabres threatened at the end of the period, but weren't able to get one past Anderson, who stopped all 14 shots he faced.
The second period saw an even period between the Senators and Sabres with each team taking 11 shots, but only one found the net. This time, it was Girgensons who found the back of the net.
Rodrigues began a Sabres rush into Ottawa's end, and after nearly getting pinned on the boards, Rodrigues flipped a backhand pass to the front of the net, where Girgensons was able to tip the puck past Anderson.
Unfortunately, luck would not be on Buffalo's side as Pageau was able to find the back of the net again at the 5:16 mark of the third period. This time, Pageau was able to blow by defenseman Zach Bogosian to the Sabres net, and he eventually was able to backhand a rebound chance into a wide-open net.
The Sabres brought some pressure toward the end of the game, spending a good minute in the Ottawa zone with the goalie pulled. However, a shot from the point made it's way out of the zone and Tkachuk got past defenseman Henri Jokiharju for a chance at the empty net. However, Jokiharju hauled Tkachuk down from behind, and the officials awarded Tkachuk a goal to put Ottawa up 3-1.
With no points registered on the evening, Sabres captain Jack Eichel had his personal 18-game point streak come to an end. It was a streak that started back on Nov. 16 when Eichel scored four goals in a 4-2 win over the Senators in Buffalo.
GAME SUMMARY
Goal Summary:
First Period:
BUF: NONEOTT: 19:06 - Jean-Gabriel Pageau (17) (Brady Tkachuk)
Second Period:
BUF: 15:12 - Zemgus Girgensons (6) (Evan Rodrigues)OTT: NONE
Third Period:
BUF: NONEOTT: 5:16 - Jean-Gabriel Pageau (18) (Brady Tkachuk, Connor Brown); 18:36 - Brady Tkachuk (13) ENG (Connor Brown)
Penalty Summary:
First Period:
BUF: NONEOTT: NONE
Second Period:
BUF: 3:41 - Jimmy Vesey (Hooking - 2 min.); 7:41 - Zach Bogosian (Holding - 2 min.)OTT: 0:40 - Chris Tierney (Hooking - 2 min.)
Third Period:
BUF: NONEOTT: 5:47 - Vladimir Namestnikov (Tripping - 2 min.)
Shots on Goal:
BUF: 44 (14, 11, 19)OTT: 29 (10, 11, 8)
Goalies:
BUF: Linus Ullmark - 26 savesOTT: Craig Anderson - 43 saves
Power Plays:
BUF: 0 for 2 (0%)OTT: 0 for 2 (0%)
Three Stars:
- Craig Anderson - OTT
- Jean-Gabriel Pageau - OTT
- Brady Tkachuk - OTT
What's Next:
The Sabres get a small break to celebrate the holidays before they take on the Boston Bruins this Friday at KeyBank Center in the first game of a home-and-home series. Faceoff is set for 7 p.m. with the Paul William Beltz Pregame Show starting a 6 p.m. with Schopp and the Bulldog at (716) Food and Sport.
