It started out rough tonight for the Buffalo Sabres. Just two minutes into the game after a neutral zone turnover by Casey Nelson, the Senators got on the board first.
Anthony Duclair tipped a point shot by Carter Hutton for his 19th of the season.
The Sabres would answer a few minutes later with the man advantage. Victor Olofsson unleashed one of his patented one-timers for his second NHL goal to even things up at one.
Olofsson Power-play goal
1-1 pic.twitter.com/jOR1NJFCAK— Ben Mathewson (@Ben_Mathewson) April 4, 2019
On the next shift the Senators took the lead back again. Carter Hutton lost a rebound that popped into the air. Jean-Gabriel Pageau had an easy goal with Hutton out of position to make it 2-1.
That’s how things would end after 20 minutes.
The Sabres would take the lead in a 2:13 stretch in the second period. First, Kyle Okposo was the beneficiary of a nice bounce off the foot of a Senators defender. He had a wide open net for his 14th of the season to tie.
Okposo Power Play Goal pic.twitter.com/DnUo8JcnUp
— Ben Mathewson (@Ben_Mathewson) April 5, 2019
Then, after a great shift by Jack Eichel, he made an even better behind the back no-look pass to Sam Reinhart and he made no mistake for his 21st of the season.
Incredible play by Eichel setting up Reinhart for a goal
3-2 Buffalo pic.twitter.com/j2LqZoexkl— Ben Mathewson (@Ben_Mathewson) April 5, 2019
The Senators wanted were ready to make a run for the bus. Fans were treated to a fun night in the home finale for the Sabres.
Eichel scored his 28th goal of the season and 80th point after another strong shift from his line that dominated throughout the entire game.
Eichel’s 28th Goal
4-2 Buffalo pic.twitter.com/BcCxZdsQGR— Ben Mathewson (@Ben_Mathewson) April 5, 2019
Then we got our storybook ending. Daccord put a puck around the wall, but right on the stick of Jason Pominville. He deposited the puck into the open net for his 16th of the season and possibly last home goal as a Sabre.
Pominville Goal
5-2 Buffalo pic.twitter.com/JGezgslCkU— Ben Mathewson (@Ben_Mathewson) April 5, 2019
The Sabres snap their losing streak and will end the season Saturday in Detroit against the Red Wings.
Final: Sabres 5, Senators 2
Shots on Goal: Sabres 40 | Senators 23
Sabres Goal Scorers: Victor Olofsson (2) (PPG), Kyle Okposo (14) (PPG), Sam Reinhart (21), Jack Eichel (28), and Jason Pominville (16)
Senators Goal Scorers: Anthony Duclair (19), Jean-Gabriel Pageau (4)