Lars Eller’s third-period goal leads Senators to a 4-1 victory as Sabres falter in Atlantic Division race
Category: Sports
OTTAWA -- In a decisive match for playoff positioning, the Ottawa Senators defeated the Buffalo Sabres 4-1 at Canadian Tire Centre on April 2, 2026. The Senators' victory snapped a three-game winless streak and propelled them back into a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
Lars Eller scored the go-ahead goal early in the third period, giving Ottawa the momentum they needed. Ridly Greig and Shane Pinto both added empty-net goals in the final minutes, sealing the victory. "I don’t think anybody wants the playoffs more than the guys in this room," said Senators captain Brady Tkachuk.
Dylan Cozens also contributed to the scoreboard, tying the game 1-1 in the second period after the Sabres initially took the lead. Mattias Samuelsson had opened the scoring for Buffalo, marking the lone goal for the Sabres in this contest. The Sabres, who were looking to clinch a playoff berth for the first time since 2010-11, now find themselves in a tighter race for the Atlantic Division title.
With the win, the Senators improved their record to 39-26-10, placing them in a tie for points with the Detroit Red Wings and Columbus Blue Jackets for the second wild card spot. Ottawa holds the tiebreaker over both teams, a key factor as the regular season winds down. Meanwhile, the Sabres, with a record of 46-22-8, remain tied for first place in the Atlantic Division but lost valuable ground to the Tampa Bay Lightning, who defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins 6-3 on the same night.
Following the game, Senators coach Travis Green praised his team's resilience. "The one thing about our team, I’ve said it before, they’re very coachable and you can be very honest with them about their game, and they responded tonight," he stated.
The game started off slowly, with Buffalo outshooting Ottawa 6-4 in the first period but failing to capitalize on their chances. Samuelsson’s goal came at 8:49 in the second period, a powerful shot through a screen that gave the Sabres a temporary lead. "If we want to be able to do anything in the postseason, we're going to have to find ways to win different ways," Samuelsson noted after the game.
Cozen’s goal came at 15:18 in the second period, a well-executed play that saw him redirect a pass from Tkachuk past Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. Cozens described the game as "weird to start, not a lot going on," but emphasized the importance of sticking to their game plan to grind out a win.
Injuries plagued both teams, with the Senators missing key defensemen including Nick Jensen and Thomas Chabot. Tyler Kleven left the game with an upper-body injury after blocking a shot, adding to Ottawa’s defensive woes. Green commented on Kleven’s injury, saying he was "not expecting it to be great news," highlighting the challenges his team faces as they push for the playoffs.
Buffalo’s head coach Lindy Ruff expressed disappointment with his team’s performance, noting, "They were down to five (defensemen), and we didn’t stress them out enough, didn’t generate enough high-quality opportunities. The game was sitting there and they took it over." This loss marked a setback for the Sabres, who had recently won two straight games and were looking to solidify their playoff position.
As the season approaches its final weeks, the pressure intensifies for both teams. The Sabres are still in a strong position, tied for first in the Atlantic Division, but they must regain their momentum quickly. The Senators, on the other hand, have reignited their playoff hopes with this victory, and will look to build on this success in their upcoming games.
With the stakes higher than ever, the Senators' ability to capitalize on their chances and maintain their defensive integrity will be key as they navigate the final stretch of the season. Meanwhile, the Sabres must regroup and refocus, as they prepare for their next challenge in the quest for postseason glory.
Next up, the Senators will face the Tampa Bay Lightning, who are also vying for playoff positioning. The game will be a test of Ottawa’s resolve and a chance for Buffalo to rebound from this disappointing loss.
As the NHL playoff picture continues to take shape, every game counts, and both teams are aware of the implications of their performances in the coming weeks.