The Buffalo Sabres are aiming for their first win of the season as they host the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday at KeyBank Center. The Sabres have started their campaign with three consecutive losses, scoring only two goals so far.
Coach Lindy Ruff addressed the team’s early struggles, pointing to issues with offensive consistency and effort. “I don’t think it’s anything to do with schematics; I think we have to get behind people quicker,” Ruff said after Tuesday’s practice. “… When you look at our entries, I need more effort. The focus on today’s meeting, which was lengthy, was the effort once we reach the other team’s blue line: it has to be greater than their effort to defend.”
Ruff also noted that the team has not been able to capitalize on scoring opportunities, missing the net on about a quarter of their shot attempts, and starting the season 0-for-11 on the power play. “You’ve got to take advantage of those when you break a team down; we didn’t,” Ruff said, adding that he wants defensemen to be more involved in the offense.
The Senators, meanwhile, have had their own difficulties, especially on defense and in goal, after winning their opener but losing their next two games by a combined score of 10-3. Ottawa will be without captain Brady Tkachuk, who left Monday’s game with a hand or wrist injury and will miss a “significant amount of time,” according to coach Travis Green.
Shane Pinto has scored four goals in three games for Ottawa, while Tkachuk and defensemen Jake Sanderson and Artem Zub have each recorded three assists to start the year.
Buffalo will see forward Zach Benson make his season debut after missing the first three games due to a facial injury. Jiri Kulich is also set to play after practicing with the team this week.
Last season, the Sabres swept the four-game series against Ottawa, outscoring them by a combined 17-5. Ryan McLeod, who has yet to register a point this season, led Buffalo in those games with seven points.
The game will be broadcast locally on MSG, streamed on the Gotham Sports App and ESPN+ for out-of-market viewers, and available on radio via WGR 550.
