The Buffalo Sabres coughed up five first-period goals in their 6-2 loss to the Ottawa Senators.
It was a shocking start for a team on the brink of being eliminated from the playoffs. Star goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen was replaced by Devon Levi after the fourth goal, leaving the Sabres scratching their heads.
It was a disappointing effort after a good win on Sunday and some rest returning from the West Coast.
The Senators started the scoring after a Boris Katchouk shot was deflected and sat on the Sabres’ goalline. Artem Zub crashed the net to make sure the puck crossed the line. Katchouk then recorded a goal of his own, when a spin-around shot from the boards found its way clear past Luukkonen and into the net.
After Drake Batherson made a move and scored while being left alone in front of Luukkonen, it felt like a goaltending switch or Buffalo timeout was in the works. The Finnish netminder remained in the crease for Buffalo until he surrendered a goal on a Jakob Chychrun slapshot.
Levi came into the game and made some impressive saves instantly before Brady Tkachuk tipped a puck through him on a nifty passing play at four-on-four. The five first-period goals were Ottawa’s most since 2004.
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