National Hockey League
Ottawa 3, Buffalo 2
When: 7:30 PM ET, Thursday, February 15, 2018
Where: Canadian Tire Centre, Ottawa, Ontario
Referees: Ghislain Hebert, Jean Hebert
Linesmen: Scott Driscoll, Ryan Daisy
Attendance: 13371
Mike Hoffman scored 73 seconds into overtime as the Ottawa Senators rallied for a 3-2 victory over the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday night at the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa.

Marian Gaborik had a goal and an assist in his Ottawa debut and set up the tying goal by Derick Brassard with 31 seconds left in regulation.

The Senators clinched their fourth straight home win when Erik Karlsson faked a shot from the point to get Buffalo goaltender Robin Lehner out of position. He whipped the puck to Hoffman, who one-timed the pass from the left circle by Lehner, getting his 16th goal while falling to his knee.

Matt Duchene collected three assists and Craig Anderson made 23 saves as the Senators beat the Sabres for the second time in the past seven meetings.

Karlsson added two assists for Ottawa.

Scott Wilson and Evan Rodrigues scored for the Sabres, who are 3-10 in overtime.

Lehner made 33 saves for Buffalo, which played its second game without Jack Eichel (high ankle sprain).

Buffalo took a 1-0 lead 6:31 into the first period by capitalizing on a turnover by Mark Borowiecki, who coughed up the puck after being hit by Rasmus Ristolainen. The Sabres' Johan Larsson gained possession from Thomas Chabot and left a drop pass for Wilson, who put a wrist shot by Anderson.

Ottawa tied the game 5:15 into the third when Duchene won a faceoff from Rodrigues in the offensive zone. Duchene fed Karlsson, whose long point shot was re-directed in by Gaborik's stick from the right circle.

Rodrigues gave Buffalo a 2-1 lead by converting Kyle Okposo's cross-ice pass off Anderson's blocker after Casey Nelson pried the puck from Brassard.

The Senators tied the game after pulling Anderson as Gaborik made a backhand pass to Brassard, whose shot from the right circle went over Lehner's pads.

--Field Level Media

Top Game Performances
 
Buffalo   Ottawa
Evan Rodrigues 1 Points Matt Duchene 3
Evan Rodrigues 1 Goals Marian Gaborik 1
Nathan Beaulieu 1 Assists Matt Duchene 3
N/A Power Play Goals N/A
N/A Short Handed Goals N/A
Robin Lehner .917 Save Percentage Craig Anderson .920
Robin Lehner 33 Saves Craig Anderson 23
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
Buffalo 25 2 0-2 4-4 10 25
Ottawa 36 3 0-4 2-2 6 31
Upcoming Games
  • Ottawa will play their next game at home against NY Rangers. The Senators have a W/L % of .368 after a win and .351 after a loss.
  • Buffalo will play their next game at home against Los Angeles. The Sabres have a W/L % of .235 after a win and .317 after a loss.