OTTAWA, Ontario — — Lars Eller broke a third-period tie and the Ottawa Senators prevented Buffalo from wrapping up a drought-breaking playoff spot Thursday night time, beating the Sabres 4-1.
Buffalo must wait to finish its NHL-record 14-season postseason skid, the second-longest energetic futility run in North America’s 4 main sports activities behind the New York Jets and their 15-season slide.
Eller deflected defenseman Artem Zub‘s shot from the purpose previous goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen at 5:55 of the third.
Buffalo defenseman Mattias Samuelsson opened the scoring at 8:49 of the second with an extended wrist shot. Dylan Cozens tied it with 4:42 left within the second on a tip-in. He has 26 objectives this season.
Ridly Greig and Shane Pinto added empty-net objectives.
Linus Ullmark made 21 saves for Ottawa. The Senators — within the second wild-card spot within the East — opened a five-game homestand.
Luukkonen stopped 20 photographs for Buffalo.
Senators defenseman Tyler Kleven left within the first interval with an upper-body harm and didn’t return. The staff has turn into more and more skinny on protection, lacking Thomas Chabot, Jake Sanderson, Nick Jensen and others.
Ottawa’s Brady Tkachuk fought Logan Stanley late within the first interval.
Sabres: At Washington on Saturday night time.
Senators: Host Minnesota on Saturday.
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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl
