Ottawa 3, Buffalo 1
When: 7:30 PM ET, Monday, December 23, 2019
Where: Canadian Tire Centre, Ottawa, Ontario
Referees:
Marc Joannette, Pierre Lambert
Linesmen:
Steve Barton, Derek Nansen
Attendance:
11838
By Field Level Media
Jean-Gabriel Pageau scored two goals and the Ottawa Senators defeated the visiting Buffalo Sabres 3-1 on Monday night.
Brady Tkachuk had an empty-net goal and two assists, and Craig Anderson made 43 saves for the Senators in his first game since Dec. 7, when he suffered a lower-body injury against Philadelphia.
Zemgus Girgensons scored for Buffalo, which is 1-3-1 in its past five games, and Linus Ullmark made 27 saves.
Sabres captain Jack Eichel failed to record a point for the first time since Nov. 14. The NHL ruled that his point streak officially ended on Thursday when he sat out the Sabres' loss to the Philadelphia Flyers due to an upper-body injury. He returned to record an assist Saturday in Buffalo's win over the Los Angeles Kings.
Eichel was bidding to become the first player in Sabres history to have a point in 19 consecutive games played.
Ottawa is 5-2-3 in its past 10 games following a five-game losing streak.
Ottawa took a 1-0 lead at 19:06 of the first period when Tkachuk controlled the puck in the corner and passed to Pageau, who blasted a one-timer past Ullmark from the right circle.
The Sabres tied it at 15:12 of the second period when Evan Rodrigues sent a backhand pass toward the net and a driving Girgensons deflected the puck over Anderson's right shoulder.
Pageau regained the lead for Ottawa at 5:16 of the third period. His initial shot on the rush was stopped by Ullmark, but Pageau backhanded the loose puck home for his 18th goal of the season.
Tkachuk was awarded a goal when he was pulled down by Buffalo's Henri Jokiharju while skating toward an empty Sabres' net at 18:35 of the third period.
Both teams were 0-for-2 on the power play.
Buffalo's Kyle Okposo was a late scratch due to illness.
--Field Level Media
Top Game Performances
| Buffalo |
|
Ottawa |
|
Zemgus Girgensons 1 |
Points |
Brady Tkachuk 3 |
|
Zemgus Girgensons 1 |
Goals |
Jean-Gabriel Pageau 2 |
|
Evan Rodrigues 1 |
Assists |
Brady Tkachuk 2 |
|
N/A |
Power Play Goals |
N/A |
|
N/A |
Short Handed Goals |
N/A |
|
Linus Ullmark .931 |
Save Percentage |
Craig Anderson .977 |
|
Linus Ullmark 27 |
Saves |
Craig Anderson 43 |
Team Stats Summary
| Team |
Shots |
Goals |
Power Play |
Penalty Kill |
Penalty Mins |
Face Offs Won |
| Buffalo
|
44 |
1 |
0-2 |
2-2 |
4 |
30 |
| Ottawa
|
29 |
3 |
0-2 |
2-2 |
4 |
32 |
Upcoming Games
-
Ottawa will play their next game at home against New Jersey. The Senators have a W/L % of .267 after a win and .522 after a loss.
-
Buffalo will play their next game at home against Boston. The Sabres have a W/L % of .444 after a win and .450 after a loss.
For more information, contact us