Lehner earns shootout victory

After the two teams split the first two meetings this season, the Buffalo Sabres and Ottawa Senators faced each other at Canadian Tire Centre for the third time this year.

Coming off a disappointing 5-1 loss to the Flames last night at home, a road win against a division rival would be helpful in removing the bad taste of Wednesday’s blowout. The motivation paid off as the Sabres pulled out a 4-3 victory in their first shootout win of the season.

Finally, Robin Lehner showed up in the shootout and Jacob Josefson finished it off to defeat the Sens.

Following a shaky stretch where he averaged four goals per game in three of his prior four starts, Lehner kept his team in the game all night. The Sabres offense responded with three goals of their own, and they were able to keep pace with the Senators throughout the game.

Sam Reinhart continued his great run, tying the game at 2 with under six minutes in the second. He also earned an assist on Scott Wilson’s third-period goal. Wilson, who scored his sixth under a minute into the period, helped push the game into overtime.

Marco Scandella scored his fifth of the year and kept up his solid second-half surge and gave the Sabres a 1-0 lead.

The game had both teams on an even pace, offensively as well as on the physical end, with the Senators finishing with a lead in shots on goal and hits. Ottawa and Buffalo finished with 74 combined shots on goal and 56 combined hits, with both teams playing a strong game.

Lehner, earned 34 saves on 37 shots faced and had an admirable effort throughout regulation as well as overtime. After the last couple years of struggles in shootouts and has faced criticism, Lehner showed up in this game, stopping two of three shots in his first shootout win in over a year.

“It was nice, we needed this win today, a pretty fun game.”- Robin Lehner

Ottawa was able to provide a strong challenge throughout the game, with Ryan Dzingel scoring his team’s first two goals to give them a 2-1 lead in the second.  Thomas Chabot scored the Senators third and final goal before the Sabres came back to tie the game and eventually win.

“I think going into the 3rd, we were one shot away, I liked the way we rallied…especially in the 3rd period of a back-to-back.”- Scott Wilson

With the Sabres earning their second win over against the Senators, and their fourth win in five matchups against the Atlantic Division, they were able to help Lehner get out of his recent low spot.

Buffalo was also able to earn a come-from-behind win to inch closer to Ottawa in the standings, with two points separating the teams.

A strong overall effort by the Sabres tonight finished their short road trip across the border on a positive note. The team will return to KeyBank Center to face the Vegas Golden Knights at home, set for a 1 p.m. puck drop.