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James Reimer, Buffalo Sabres (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)

Sabres Sweep Season Series Against Tkachuk-Less Senators

Originally posted on The Hockey Writers
By Aidan Cowling-McDonnell | Last updated Apr 1, 2025 10:24 PM ET

James Reimer’s 33 saves helped the Buffalo Sabres (32-36-6) complete the season series sweep of the shorthanded Ottawa Senators (39-29-6) with a 5-2 victory at the Canadian Tire Centre on Tuesday. The Sens weren’t at full strength in this matchup as captain Brady Tkachuk missed Tuesday’s matchup with an upper-body injury. Multipoint performances by Alex Tuch, Mattias Samuelsson, and captain Rasmus Dahlin pushed the Sabres comfortably past the Sens as Ottawa finished 0-for-4 on power play attempts in the three-goal defeat.

Tuesday’s win was the second straight with a 30-plus save performance for Reimer against the Sens. He stopped 30 shots in a 3-2 win on March 25. Linus Ullmark finished Tuesday’s loss with 17 saves on 22 shots as Buffalo finishes the season series outscoring Ottawa 17-5.

Game Recap

Despite being outshot 12-5 and giving the Senators three power plays, the Sabres managed to take a 2-0 lead into the dressing room after 20 minutes. Tuch scooped up the rebound from a Samuelsson point shot off Ullmark’s right pad and slid it home for his 32nd tally of the season at the 8:38 mark.

Buffalo doubled their lead less than four minutes later when Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin launched a slapshot from the blueline for his 14th of the season at 11:50. Samuelsson picked up his second assist of the period, along with Jack Quinn.

The Sabres grabbed a 3-0 lead at 12:36 in the second when Tage Thompson finished off an offensive-zone give-and-go with JJ Peterka for his 39th of the season. Dahlin picked up his 45th assist of the season as well.

The Senators got on the board when Claude Giroux received a saucer pass from Tyler Kleven and whipped it in from the slot past Reimer for his 15th of the season. Ullmark also picked up an assist on the Giroux goal, the fourth of his 10-year career.

In the third, former Sabre Dylan Cozens’ neutral zone turnover landed on the stick of Buffalo forward Peyton Krebs, who finished off the rush with a snapshot past the glove of Ullmark. Cozens finished with a minus-four rating against his former squad on Tuesday. Buffalo’s fourth goal of the game came at 9:59. Just 23 seconds later, Ottawa defenseman Jake Sanderson brought the Sens back within two after launching a wrister from the blue line past Reimer.

The Sens continued to put pressure on the Sabres, outshooting Buffalo 15-9 in the final 20 minutes, but after a failed power play where they pulled their goalie with three minutes to go, Ryan McLeod put the game out of reach with an shorthanded empty-netter less than a minute into the penalty for his 19th of the season.

The Senators will play the second of a four-game home stand on Thursday (April 3) against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Sabres will have three days off before returning to action on Saturday (April 5) against the Lightning in Buffalo.