Ottawa Senators vs. Buffalo Sabres Pick & Prediction NOVEMBER 5th 2024

Stadium: First Niagara Center Buffalo
Logo Ottawa Senators
VS
Logo Buffalo Sabres
6.5
OPENER
-1.5
6.5o 100
CURRENT
1.5 -243
-113
MONEYLINE
+102
1
SCORE
5

Preview and Prediction

Brady Tkachuk, the captain of the Ottawa Senators, is pleased with the progress his team has made and has good reason to be.

Tkachuk and the emerging Senators will continue to put the pieces together on Tuesday night when they face the struggling Buffalo Sabres.

According to Tkachuk, the team's direction became clearer after their response to their 5-4 loss to the Colorado Avalanche on October 27th.

See also: "Blackhawks Defeat Rangers and Break Cold Streak in NHL Recap" Avalanche and Sharks Exchange Goalkeepers in Four-Player Trade See also: Avalanche and Sharks Exchange Goalkeepers in Four-Player Trade

The Senators exploded for an 8-1 victory over the St. Louis Blues last Tuesday, were defeated by a stellar performance from former Vezina Trophy winner Igor Shesterkin and the New York Rangers on Friday, and shut out the Seattle Kraken 3-0 the following night.

"After the Colorado game, we were extremely disappointed with our performance," Tkachuk stated, as reported by the Ottawa Citizen. "Since then, we have made it a priority to never let that happen again. Our last three games have shown us the way we need to play."

"To be honest, that's the style of play we need to strive for and enjoy. These are the types of games we need to thrive in. As a team, we will continue to build on that and we are not a group that will become complacent with wins and efforts. We want more."

They are getting more out of fourth-line player Adam Gaudette, who has scored all six of his goals this season in the last five games, tying him with Tim Stutzle for second on the team. Gaudette, a former Hobey Baker Award winner in college, and Stutzle are one goal behind Tkachuk.

"It's a tough league. It's tough to break into and even tougher to stay in," Gaudette said, as reported by the Ottawa Citizen. "I have had to improve my defensive game without the puck and I have always been able to score."

"But the rest of my game wasn't at the level needed to play in this league yet. Spending a couple of years in the AHL has taught me that. I have learned from many different people and have been a part of a few different teams. I have absorbed everything like a sponge and it is paying off."

While it may be too early for the Senators to think about making the playoffs for the first time since 2016-17, the Sabres - who have not made the playoffs since 2010-11 - are currently tied for the fewest points in the Eastern Conference.

See also: "Recap of NHL Action: Stars Dominate Flames with Four Goals in Final Period" See also: "Blackhawks Put Goaltender Petr Mrazek (Groin Injury) on IR"

Alex Tuch scored his second short-handed goal of the season on Saturday, but Buffalo gave up two power-play goals in a 2-1 loss to the Detroit Red Wings.

"The penalty kill was the obvious difference. It is unacceptable to give up two goals," Tuch stated. "In the second half of the game, I thought we took over and played very well, but we need to capitalize on our chances."

Tage Thompson's point streak was snapped at a career-high eight games.

Thompson, who leads the team in goals (seven) and points (13), had five goals and an assist in the four games against the Senators last season.

PREDICTION
Ottawa Senators
4
3
Buffalo Sabres

Ottawa Senators vs. Buffalo Sabres Recap NOV 5TH 2024

JJ Peterka scored two power-play goals and Bowen Byram tallied twice, lifting the host Buffalo Sabres to a 5-1 victory over the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday.

Peterka also had an assist as part of the third three-point performance in his NHL career.

Buffalo's Tage Thompson scored and set up a goal while registering 11 shots.

Ryan McLeod and Rasmus Dahlin each notched two assists and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 37 saves to help the Sabres halt their three-game skid.

Ottawa's Ridly Greig scored in the second and captain Brady Tkachuk had an assist to extend his point streak to five games.

Linus Ullmark turned aside 29 shots for the Senators, who have dropped five of six games on the road (1-5-0).

Buffalo opened the scoring at 6:37 of the first period after Jason Zucker fed Peterka from behind the net. Peterka, who was stationed along the goal line, immediately wristed a shot that caromed off Ullmark and into the net.

Lukkonnen made the slim advantage stand up late in the first period by denying Noah Gregor on a two-on-none rush following a turnover by Thompson.

The Sabres doubled the advantage just 17 seconds into the second period after McLeod's sharp pass from along the left-wing boards to the right circle found Byram, who wristed a shot past Ullmark.

Greig jammed home his own rebound to halve the deficit at 7:31 of the second period before Buffalo responded with two goals in 16 seconds early in the third period.

Byram's shot from just inside the blue line slipped past Ullmark just 21 seconds into the third period.

Thompson was credited with a goal shortly thereafter to give the Sabres a three-goal advantage. He fell to the ice in the crease before the puck banked off his shoulder and into the net for his team-leading eighth of the season.

Peterka's one-timer from the right circle capped the scoring at 12:08 of the third period.