In Ottawa, Jean-Gabriel Pageau struck for two goals and the Senators defeated the visiting Buffalo Sabres, 3-1, on Monday night.
Craig Anderson made 43 saves in the win.
“I had several practices here in row where I was able to get back into the swing of things and get the rhythm back,” Anderson said. “I think the best thing is just to go out there and play and not think. That was tonight. Just go out there and find the puck.”
Zemgus Girgensons scored the Sabres’ only goal.
“Twenty-five scoring chances and 44 shots speak for themselves,” Sabres head coach Ralph Krueger said. “I think Anderson had a world-class game today. We had good control early in the game, but we weren’t creating the net pressure that we should’ve out of the puck control we had. They were opportunistic on their chances.”
The Senators are 5-2-3 in their last 10.
“Last time we played them, [Jack Eichel] had four goals,” the Senators’ Brady Tkachuk said. “So, something we really focused on was not letting him get those chances. We can’t let that happen on home ice.”
Tkachuk had a goal in the Sens’ effort.
“Our goal in the last 10 games has been to get back in the pack, because you never know what’s going to happen in the second half [of the season],” Tkachuk said. “It was a big game against a divisional team, so we’re going to take that and use that when we get back from Christmas break.”
[WATCH:Â All Sabres vs. Senators highlights]
Linus Ullmark made 27 saves in the loss.
“For us, the important thing at this point in time is to be a part of the [Stanley Cup Playoff] race,” Krueger said. “We’re definitely there, because we believe we’re only going to get better. We believe we’re going to improve and we’re going to get stronger as this season builds, so to be in the mix, as we are now, is what we need to take with us.”
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