Senators smash Sabres behind five-goal first period

[March 28, 2024]  Brady Tkachuk and Boris Katchouk each collected a goal and an assist during Ottawa's five-goal first period on Wednesday, lifting the visiting Senators to a 6-2 victory over the Buffalo Sabres.
 
Ottawa's Drake Batherson joined defensemen Jakob Chychrun and Artem Zub in scoring a goal during the first period. The Senators netted five goals in the opening stanza for the first time since Jan. 8, 2004.  

Mar 27, 2024; Buffalo, New York, USA; Ottawa Senators left wing Boris Katchouk (14) celebrates his goal with teammates during the first period against the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports

Shane Pinto scored into an empty net and added three assists to send the Senators (31-36-4, 66 points) to their third win in a row and sixth in the past nine games.

Ottawa goalie Joonas Korpisalo made 35 saves to improve to 5-1-0 in his past six appearances.

Buffalo's Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen yielded four goals on nine shots before being replaced by Devon Levi (33 saves).

JJ Peterka and Conor Clifton each scored a goal and defenseman Jacob Bryson added two assists for the Sabres (34-34-5, 73 points), who have lost three of their past four games.

Zub started the offensive onslaught by tipping home a loose puck in the crease at 2:37 of the first period. The goal was Zub's fourth of the season and first since Ottawa's 5-1 win over Buffalo on New Year's Eve.

Katchouk deflected Parker Kelly's blast past Luukkonen at 4:56, his sixth of the campaign. Batherson backhanded the puck past the goalie 65 seconds later to give Ottawa a 3-0 lead. Batherson's goal was his 26th of the season and third in three games.

Chychrun unleashed a blast from the top of the left circle at 8:49 to spell the end of the evening for Luukkonen. Chychrun's goal was his 12th of the season and third in two games.

Tkachuk's deflection in front extended Ottawa's lead to 5-0 with 49 seconds left in the first period. The captain's goal was his team-leading 32nd of the season and fifth in his last seven games.

Peterka scored at 2:54 of the second period, and Clifton followed with a goal at 13:07 of the middle frame.

Pinto iced the victory at 16:43 of the third.

--Field Level Media

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