Shane Pinto has a goal and 3 assists as the Senators roll to 6-2 win over the Sabres

Wed, Mar 27, 2024
NHL News (AP)

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.

Joonas Korpisalo had 34 saves to improve to 5-1 in his past six starts.

JJ Peterka and Connor Clifton scored for Buffalo in a matchup of two Atlantic Division teams all but mathematically out of playoff contention.

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 to tumble eight points out of Eastern Conference playoff race.

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.

Nashville Predators are 16-0-2 since their trip to see U2 in Vegas was canceled

NHL's Capitals and NBA's Wizards are staying in Washington after Virginia arena deal collapses

NHL playoff race heats up as the Capitals, Flyers and Red Wings are vying for 2 spots in the East

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.

For Peterka, the goal was his 25th of the season to move him into the team lead - one ahead of Jeff Skinner. Alex Tuch had an assist to extend his point streak to six games in which he has a goal and seven assists.

Sabres rookie center Jack Quinn returned after missing 23 games with a lower-body injury.

UP NEXT

Senators: Host the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday night.

Sabres: Resume a five-game homestand against the New Jersey Devils on Friday night.

___

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl