The Ottawa Senators faced a difficult start without captain Brady Tkachuk, losing 8-4 to the Buffalo Sabres.
Backup goalie Leevi Merilainen struggled, and the Senators couldn't recover from the loss. Goals from Lars Eller, Shane Pinto, Jake Sanderson, and Tim Stutzle were not enough to save the team.
This loss marks the Senators' third straight defeat. The team's performance was disappointing, with Merilainen's struggles in goal being a major factor.
The Senators couldn’t get a save from backup goalie Leevi Merilainen, and as a result, they weren’t able to save themselves from an ugly 8-4 loss.
Author's summary: Senators lose 8-4 to Sabres without captain Brady Tkachuk.