OTTAWA, ON – Anton Forsberg made 45 saves and Ottawa beat the Buffalo Sabres 5-1 on Sunday night in Senators interim coach Jacques Martin’s 1,300th NHL game.
Ottawa won after removing the interim tag and appointing Steve Staios as general manager Sunday. Martin took over as interim coach about two weeks ago after D.J. Smith was fired.
Zack MacEwen and Mark Kastelic each had their first goal of the season and Dominik Kubalik, Jakob Chychrun and Artem Zub also scored to help Ottawa improve to 15-18-0. Thomas Chabot had two assists in his return after missing 12 games because of a leg injury.
Tage Thompson scored for Buffalo, and Devon Levi made 26 saves.The Sabres are 15-19-4.
Ottawa opened the scoring with Chychrun’s power-play goal at 6:51 of the first period. Chychrun one-timed it past Levi for his 200th career point. McEwen made it 2-0, and Thompson countered for Buffalo with 13 seconds remaining in the period.
Ottawa took a 3-1 lead seven minutes into the second when Ridly Greig deked past Rasmus Dahlin and dished a pass over to Kubalik, who got a piece of the bouncing puck. Kastelic scored with 15 seconds remaining in the period.
Zub had an empty-net goal in the third.
Ottawa also made Dave Poulin the senior vice-president of hockey operations and Ryan Bowness associate general manager. Bowness had been the general manager of the Senators’ AHL farm team, the Belleville Senators.
OTTAWA, ON – DECEMBER 31: Ottawa Senators Defenceman Jakob Chychrun (6) celebrates his goal with Left Wing Dominik Kubalik (81) and Left Wing Vladimir Tarasenko (91) during first period National Hockey League action between the Buffalo Sabres and Ottawa Senators on December 31, 2023, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire)
OTTAWA, ON – DECEMBER 31: Buffalo Sabres Goalie Devon Levi (27) after a whistle during first period National Hockey League action between the Buffalo Sabres and Ottawa Senators on December 31, 2023, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire)
OTTAWA, ON – DECEMBER 31: Buffalo Sabres Goalie Devon Levi (27) looks to make a save during first period National Hockey League action between the Buffalo Sabres and Ottawa Senators on December 31, 2023, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire)
OTTAWA, ON – DECEMBER 31: Ottawa Senators Goalie Anton Forsberg (31) makes a save on Buffalo Sabres Right Wing JJ Peterka (77) during second period National Hockey League action between the Buffalo Sabres and Ottawa Senators on December 31, 2023, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire)
OTTAWA, ON – DECEMBER 31: Ottawa Senators Defenceman Jakob Chychrun (6) battles Buffalo Sabres Defenceman Rasmus Dahlin (26) after a whistle during second period National Hockey League action between the Buffalo Sabres and Ottawa Senators on December 31, 2023, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire)
OTTAWA, ON – DECEMBER 31: Ottawa Senators Goalie Anton Forsberg (31) after a whistle during second period National Hockey League action between the Buffalo Sabres and Ottawa Senators on December 31, 2023, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire)
OTTAWA, ON – DECEMBER 31: Buffalo Sabres Left Wing Jack Quinn (22) sits on the boards after a whistle during third period National Hockey League action between the Buffalo Sabres and Ottawa Senators on December 31, 2023, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire)
OTTAWA, ON – DECEMBER 31: Buffalo Sabres Defenceman Ryan Johnson (33) skates with the puck during third period National Hockey League action between the Buffalo Sabres and Ottawa Senators on December 31, 2023, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire)
OTTAWA, ON – DECEMBER 31: Ottawa Senators Defenceman Thomas Chabot (72) talks to Left Wing Parker Kelly (27) before a face-off during third period National Hockey League action between the Buffalo Sabres and Ottawa Senators on December 31, 2023, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire)
OTTAWA, ON – DECEMBER 31: Buffalo Sabres Defenceman Connor Clifton (75) talks to Linesmen David Brisebois (96) during third period National Hockey League action between the Buffalo Sabres and Ottawa Senators on December 31, 2023, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire)
