Tonight the Sabres got their first win of the season in impressive fashion, beating the Senators 8-4 in a crazy game at home!

The Senators were the far better team right off the hop to start this game, possessing the puck in the Buffalo zone and getting some nice looks while not really giving up anything to the Sabres. The Sabres were the first on the board though with a really strange goal on the power play, credited to Jack Quinn as he missed a shot from the slot, which then bounced off the goalie’s back twice and into the net. I did think that both Sabres penalty kills in that period were pretty solid, but right after one got killed off, Tim Stutzle tied it up, getting left all alone right in front to tip in a shot with 3:51 left in the first. Ottawa was definitely the better team here through 20 minutes. Buffalo got better early on, but got lucky on a goal and had just 3 shots, all coming on the power play. 

Ottawa took the lead with Jake Sanderson making it 2-1 tipping the puck past Lyon with a ton of chaos in the crease, 3:58 into the second period. Lindy challenged it, and was unsuccessful, making the goal stand and sending the Sens to the power play. Ryan McLeod tied it up for Buffalo, shorthanded, 6:46 into the period, with a nicely placed quick shot from the circle off a nice setup behind the net from Zach Benson, who’s back in the lineup tonight. A few minutes later, with 9:43 left in the period, the Sabres got the lead back. Ottawa’s goalie lost his stick, Bufffalo sustained good pressure in the zone and Alex Tuch scored, tipping in a quick rebound off a Bryson shot from the point. Jason Zucker made it 4-2 on the power play with 8:14 left, getting left wide open coming up the slot and taking a quick shot past Merilainen. Zucker scored again, also on the power play, with 6:17 left in the period. By far the Sabres best period of the season, capitalizing on their chances. Impressive!

The Sens answered back from that period just 40 seconds into the third, with Shane Pinto tipping in a bad angle shot from Jordan Spence to make it a 5-3 game. Only 1:35 later, three Sabres defenseman went to Nick Cousins in the corner, who quickly passed it over to a wide open Lars Eller in front to make it a one goal game. Buffalo answered right back seven seconds left on a good shot by Zach McLeod in transition with Josh Doan and Alex Tuch. Jack Quinn added another one less than a minute later to make it 7-4 with a nice move in front to deke out Merilainen on a great two on one with Peyton Krebs with 16:43 left in regulation. With 3:16 left, the Sabres added to the score with an early empty netter to make it 8-4 Buffalo for the final.

Final: Sabres 8, Senators 4

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Great game tonight for the Sabres offense to get our first win of the season. Impressive showing and I thought although we looked shaky early and got lucky on the first goal, the Sabres needed a big night tonight. Huge to get more than one goal on the board, get rolling and seeing success.

I’m good with losing money betting against them if the Sabres are going to play like this. Really fun game!

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