Buffalo Sabres Overcome Early Struggles to Defeat Senators 8-4

BUFFALO, N.Y. — The Buffalo Sabres celebrated their first win of the season with an impressive 8-4 victory over the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday night at KeyBank Center. The Sabres overcame an early deficit, scoring six goals in the second period.

Early in the second period, the Sabres faced a challenge. After the Senators netted the go-ahead goal during a power play moment, head coach Lindy Ruff’s team appeared to be on the back foot. Buffalo also failed to successfully challenge for goaltender interference, which left them short-handed.

However, from 6:46 onward, the game momentum shifted dramatically. After a scramble at the net, Ryan McLeod tied the game with a shorthanded goal, fed perfectly by Zach Benson. “We fed off the energy,” Ruff said of the crowd’s reaction. McLeod described the goal as a vital moment that sparked the team, stating, “We showed a lot of life; we showed a lot of passion.”

Following McLeod’s goal, the Sabres quickly took control. Alex Tuch fired in a rebound for a 3-2 lead, followed by Jason Zucker, who scored two power-play goals just minutes apart to push the lead to 5-2.

The Senators struck back early in the third period, scoring twice to close in at 5-4. Ruff called a timeout to regroup his players. “We have the lead still, let’s just make some plays,” McLeod said regarding the message during the break. Immediately following the timeout, McLeod netted his second goal, and Jack Quinn sealed the victory shortly after.

Buffalo’s special teams had a breakthrough after starting the season 0-for-11 on power plays. Quinn’s first goal, a fortunate bounce off the boards, set the tone, helping to elevate the morale of the crowd.

Zucker’s performance, including two power-play goals, helped Buffalo climb to 3-for-14 (21.4 percent) on power plays this season, positioning them favorably in the league.

Benson made a significant impact during his season debut, returning from an injury earlier this month. He logged an impressive 16:52 minutes and recorded four assists. “Getting Benson back was a big plus,” Ruff noted. Tuch praised his linemate for his determination and impact on the ice.

Despite the victory, the Sabres did experience some concern as Justin Danforth left the game in the second period due to a lower-body injury.

Buffalo now looks ahead to its next challenge against the two-time defending champions, the Florida Panthers, on Saturday at 1 p.m.