The Buffalo Sabres’ playoff chances may be almost nonexistent, but they continue to be a nightmare for the Ottawa Senators. The Senators fell to 0-3 against the Sabres this season with a 3-2 loss in Buffalo on Tuesday night.
37-year-old James Reimer continued his career dominance against Ottawa, improving to 18-6-4 against them and making 30 saves.
The Senators were the better team through 40 minutes, but the scoreboard wasn’t buying it. Tied at 2 heading into the third period, Tage Thompson broke the deadlock early in the frame, scoring what stood up as the game-winner. It didn’t seem like a particularly dangerous situation, but with Ottawa defenders stumbling about, Thompson buried a pass from behind the net.
After that, the Sabres—led by Reimer—were able to shut the door.
Brady Tkachuk and David Perron scored for the Senators, while Cobden’s Jack Quinn and former Senator Jacob Bernard-Docker netted the other goals for Buffalo.
For Bernard-Docker, the goal was likely the most satisfying of his NHL career. Playing his first game against the organization that drafted him in the first round in 2018, he scored his first goal of the season to tie the game at two in the second period.
The Senators had traded Bernard-Docker at the deadline, and even when healthy this season, he was used sparingly. With victories over Winnipeg on the weekend and Ottawa on Tuesday, JBD has put up three points.
The Senators pulled Anton Forsberg in the dying moments and pushed for the equalizer but couldn’t find the back of the net. The win marked the 600th career victory for Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff.
With the Senators closely watching the standings and the out-of-town scoreboard in a tight Eastern Conference wild-card race, squandering all six points so far against the last-place Sabres—as they rock the longest playoff drought in NHL history—is, to put it kindly, a major missed opportunity. Being outscored 12-3 in the process takes it to a ridiculous level.
Ottawa’s next game is Thursday night in Detroit against the Red Wings, the team with the NHL’s second-longest playoff drought.
By Steve Warne
Site Editor at The Hockey News Ottawa
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