Final
Hammond, Senators overcome deficit, beat Sabres
Mar 7, 2015 - 5:20 AM Ottawa, ON (SportsNetwork.com) - Mika Zibanejad and Mike Stone scored 1:34 apart early in the third period and Ottawa escaped with a 3-2 win over Buffalo on Friday.Erik Karlsson also lit the lamp and Milan Michalek finished with a pair of helpers for the Senators, who have won seven of their last eight games.
"We were way too cute early on, weren't doing the work," said Senators coach Dave Cameron. "I just challenged them to find a way, and they did."
Andrew Hammond continued his hot play, upping his record to 7-0-1 thanks to a 24-save effort. Hammond became only the second goaltender in the last 76 years to allow two goals or fewer in each of his first eight NHL starts. Martin Jones performed the feat last year for the Kings.
Philip Varone and Tyler Ennis scored early in the contest for the Sabres, losers in three straight and seven of 10. Anders Lindback made 34 saves in the loss, Buffalo's 16th by one goal this season.
"I've been working toward this for a long time," said Lindback. "I'm ready, and I'll be ready to go again tomorrow."
Zibanejad evened the score 94 seconds into the final stanza by sliding home a Bobby Ryan centering feed in the low slot while sliding on his stomach.
Stone put the hosts on top for good with 3:08 on the clock, when he followed up Marc Methot's wraparound at the right post and poked the puck through Lindback.
Ottawa failed to pad its lead on the advantage when Varone was called for holding midway through the third, and Buffalo couldn't equalize with Lindback on the bench for an extra skater in the final minute-plus.
Varone gave the visitors a lead 7:22 into the contest, outracing two Sens defenders to a dump-in and flipping the puck through Hammond.
Ennis doubled the advantage with 3 1/2 minutes to play in the opening period on a shot from the left wing.
Karlsson struck for the hosts just 26 seconds into the second. He barely kept a clearing attempt from moving over the blue line and then threw a shot toward the net that caromed off Sabres defenseman Zach Bogosian and got past Lindback.
Game Notes
Ottawa has lost only once in regulation over its last 12 games (9-1-2), and upped its home record to 15-10-5 ... Buffalo fell to 7-23-2 on the road this season ... Following the contest, Sabres coach Ted Nolan revealed that goaltender Chad Johnson, acquired at the trade deadline from the Islanders, suffered a lower-body injury and could miss the remainder of the season.
- BUFFALO: 2
OTTAWA: 3
Final
Mar 6 10:04 PM - BUFFALO: 2
OTTAWA: 1
End of 2nd
Mar 6 9:09 PM - BUFFALO: 2
OTTAWA: 0
End of 1st
Mar 6 8:16 PM - BUFFALO: 0
OTTAWA: 0
1st Period - 20:00
Mar 6 7:40 PM
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