BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — JJ Peterka had two goals and an assist, defenseman Bowen Byram also scored twice, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 37 saves, and the Sabres beat the Ottawa Senators 5-1 on Tuesday night at KeyBank Center to end their three-game losing streak.
Ryan McLeod assisted on both of Byram’s goals and captain Rasmus Dahlin became the third Sabres defenseman to tally 300 career points with a secondary assist on the first one that gave Buffalo a 2-1 lead 17 seconds into the second period. Byram scored again 21 seconds into the third, squirting a point shot past former Sabres goaltender Linus Ullmark.
Tage Thompson got his team-leading eighth goal of the season 16 seconds later while sliding into the goal crease when Alex Tuch’s shot from the slot bounced in off Thompson’s shoulder. Peterka scored twice on power plays. Jason Zucker set up the first goal goal 6:37 into the first with a pass from the behind the net to notch his 10th point in 10 games. Peterka sixth goal of the season came late in the third on a one-timer assisted by Thompson and Dahlin.
‘Big one for us’
Rising from the bottom of the Atlantic with the victory, the Sabres (5-7-1) played a physical game from start to finish against a division rival.
Buffalo had a 37-35 advantage in hits, much of that coming in the first period. Jordan Greenway checked Ottawa’s Tim Stutzle off his skates early, compelling Senators captain Brady Tkachuck to drop the gloves. Dahlin and Ridley Greig got into it before and after the play that led to Ottawa’s only goal. In the closing minutes when the Senators expressed their frustration, Buffalonian Dennis Gilbert went after Tkachuk following a pull-apart fracas that Zach Benson played part in.
“We were emotionally involved in the game tonight right from the start,” said coach Lindy Ruff, who reminisced on the “old rivalry” between the two clubs when asked about the present intensity.
“They have some big, strong, tough dudes over there,” Byram said. “But I think we got a competitive team and no one’s going to back down.”
Thompson, whose 11 shots on goal were the most by an NHL player this season, said the first matchup this season with the Senators was “a big one for us.”
“Both sides, a lot of desperation tonight,” Thompson said. “I thought, after losing the last three, that’s a huge response from us. And I thought right from the start of the game to the finish, that was a great, collective win.”
Rising standard
Ruff made a statement with his lineup, scratching defensemen Mattias Samuelsson and Henri Jokiharju.
“I want those two guys to raise their standard of play,” Ruff said. “I need their standard to be a lot higher.
“I think we’ve discussed what is necessary to win hockey games,” Ruff continued. “I’ve probably been more patient than I’ve ever been, just trying to figure these guys out. But there’s a standard you have to play to, and the standard, it hasn’t been good enough. And other guys have sat. I met with both players today and discussed what is acceptable and what will work if you’re in the lineup.”
Big saves
Winning for the first time in three starts, Luukkonen improved his season record to 4-4-1, posting his best save percentage (.974) of the year.
Ruff issued a pregame challenge for Buffalo’s goaltenders to come come up with more big saves in critical moments. Luukkonen responded in the first period by stopping a two-man breakaway with his blocking pad to preserve the Sabres’ 1-0 lead.
“Probably the save of the game,” Ruff said. “That probably gets them back in it at a critical time. Big mistake on our part but our goaltender helped us out. And I think that’s the type of save you need that can ignite your team.”
Up next
Buffalo visits the New York Rangers on Thursday night before returning home to play the Calgary Flames on Saturday.
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Jonah Bronstein joined the WIVB squad in 2022 as a digital sports reporter. The Buffalonian has covered the Bills, Sabres, Bandits, Bisons, colleges, high schools and other notable sporting events in Western New York since 2005, for publications including The Associated Press, The Buffalo News, and Niagara Gazette. Read more of his work here.