Buffalo Sabres at Ottawa Senators Recap: Sabres Lose 4-3 As Myers Plays Well, Enroth Does Not

The Sabres came into their tenth game of the season on a wicked losing streak, and were facing the best goalie in the league in Ottawa's Craig Anderson. They managed to score three against the NHL's first star of the month of January, but it wasn't enough as Jhonas Enroth let in a few soft goals, and the Sabres fell 4-3 to the Senators, their seventh loss in the past eight games.

First Period

• The first goal of the game was a seeing-eye shot by Eric Karlsson that somehow made it through trafficv and past Jhonas Enroth. Cue sad trombone.
  
• The Sabres seem to have found some life in the Foligno-Ennis-Stafford line. These guys are making plays almost every shift and some strong puck possession by Stafford led to a nice Tyler Ennis goal to tie it at one.
• Ottawa scored two more goals this period thanks to poor puck decisions by the Sabres - going for the hero pass over the middle in their own zone instead of the safe play up the boards - and some very soft goals by backup Jhonas Enroth. Ugh.
• On the bright side, Tyler Myers played a very strong period. He was involved in the offense and played...dare I say it...good defense in the Buffalo end.
  
  1st Period Score: 3-1 Ottawa
  

Second Period

• The Sabres went down 4-1 thanks to a goal by Chris "I can't reprint this word here" Neil, who snuck behind the Sabres defense after a line change. Please, anybody but this guy.
• Buffalo pulled back to within two thanks to a Jochen Hecht pass that went through about 12 skates and found Jordan Leopold's stick.
• The Sabres power plays ranged from really bad to average. Ottawa's got a great penalty kill, but Buffalo's struggles with the man advantage are certainly contributing to their recent losing streak.
• The Sabres have just 16 shots through two periods, and a mere 12 faceoff wins to Ottawa's 28.
  
  2nd Period Score: 4-2 Ottawa

Third Period

• Tyler Myers dumped Mika Zibanejad with a beautiful hit that in other sports would be described as a "de-cleater". More of this, please. Myers played what I thought was his best game of the season, and was very involved offensively.
  
• Adam Pardy played a solid game in his Sabres debut. He had a few giveaways, but also made some nice contributions offensively and wasn't found out of position.
• Speaking of newbies, TJ Brennan had three golden chances in this game, and missed the net on all three. We're not expecting three goals, kid, but at least hit the net.
• Jason Pominville deflected a puck in with his foot that was reviewed late in the third, but deemed not to be a kicking motion. Hey, whatever it takes. The Sabres have now scored the first goal against Craig Anderson in the second and third periods this year.
• A late flurry by Buffalo was stymied by the Sens, and the Sabres have now lost seven of their last eight games.
• Thomas Vanek did not record a point, which is obviously the reason Buffalo lost. </sarcasm>
  
  3rd Period Score: 4-3 Ottawa

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