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03/27/24 10:09:00
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03/27 22:07 CDT Shane Pinto has a goal and 3 assists as the Senators roll to
6-2 win over the Sabres
Shane Pinto has a goal and 3 assists as the Senators roll to 6-2 win over the
Sabres
By JOHN WAWROW
AP Hockey Writer
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) --- Shane Pinto had a goal and three assists, and the Ottawa
Senators enjoyed a five-goal first-period surge in cruising to a 6-2 victory
over the Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday night.
Artem Zub opened the scoring 2:37 in an outing the Senators led 4-0 by the 8:49
mark of the opening period, and Pinto closed the scoring with an empty-net
goal. Brady Tkachuk, Boris Katchouk, Jakob Chychrun and Drake Batherson each
had a goal and assist in a matchup of two Atlantic Division teams all but
mathematically out of playoff contention.
Joonas Korpisalo had 34 saves to improve to 5-1 in his past six starts.
"I thought we came out strong," Pinto said, breaking into an uncontrollable
laugh. "When you start like that, it's just awesome. I think it was fun out
there. We had a fun first period."
It's not often the Senators could discuss having fun in a season they've played
well below expectations, and face the likelihood of missing the playoffs for a
seventh straight year.
The outcome was another setback for the Sabres, who continue tumbling out of
playoff contention and are in jeopardy of extending their NHL-record postseason
drought to a 13th year.
"I was pretty shocked. I thought our season's on the line," defenseman Connor
Clifton said. "They came in and they gave it to us and we had no answer."
Clifton and JJ Peterka scored second-period goals for Buffalo. Ukko-Pekka
Luukkonen was yanked after allowing four goals on nine shots. Devon Levi mopped
up in allowing one goal on 32 shots.
The Sabres' flat start was indicative of a team still attempting to get
acclimated to playing at home after spending much of the past week on a western
road swing that closed with a 4-1 win at Calgary on Sunday. Buffalo lost three
of five on the trip and sits eight points out of the Eastern Conference playoff
race.
The Senators fourth line provided the early spark by scoring the first two
goals.
Zub opened the scoring by sweeping in a loose puck that dribbled in behind
Luukkonen, after he stopped Katchouk's shot that was deflected in front by Mark
Kastelic. Katchouk scored 2:19 later by deflecting in Parker Kelly's shot from
the right circle.
"Right off the bat, the first two goals, they were the ones that produced it,
so I think it really helped," Senators interim coach Jacques Martin said. "It
doesn't change things, but you need to have some production from different
people on different nights. And, I think when you look at some of the wins that
we've had lately, we've been getting some production from other people."
Luukkonen was pulled after Chychrun made it 4-0 by blasting in a shot from the
left circle. Tkachuk capped the surge in the final minute to mark the 17th time
the Senators have scored at least five goals in one period --- and first time
since a five-goal second period in a 6-4 win against Montreal on April 23, 2022.
The team record is six, which came in the first period of a 7-1 win over
Atlanta on March 21, 2000.
Martin said defenseman Thomas Chabot will be evaluated after leaving the game
with an undisclosed injury in the third period.
UP NEXT
Senators: Host the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday night.
Sabres: Resume a five-game homestand against the New Jersey Devils on Friday
night.
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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl
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