Michalek’s second goal with 23 seconds left gives Senators 3-2 win over Sabres

OTTAWA – Milan Michalek scored his second goal of the game with 23 second left as the Ottawa Senators defeated the Buffalo Sabres 3-2 on Thursday.

The Sabres had fought back to tie the game with two third-period goals, but Senators captain Jason Spezza found Michalek in the slot who beat Jhonas Enroth over the shoulder for the winner.

Erik Karlsoon also scored for the Senators (26-21-11) while Craig Anderson made 30 saves.

Tyler Ennis and Drew Stafford scored for the Sabres (15-34-8), who lost for the fourth straight time. Enroth made 33 saves.

Following two periods that saw the Senators build a 1-0 lead, things opened up in the third period with not only four goals, but several good scoring opportunities.

It started with Michalek doubling the Senators’ lead to 2-0 just 10 seconds into the period on a perfect pass from Spezza allowing Michalek to redirect the puck in.

Spezza then nearly scored himself on a great individual effort as he fought through the Sabres defence but was stopped by Enroth.

Ottawa then got into penalty trouble but was fortunate when Ennis hit the post on one power play opportunity.

The Sabres also had a five-on three advantage for 17 seconds but were unable to get a shot on goal during that brief stretch.

Ennis finally broke Anderson’s shutout bid at 10:25 of the third when the puck came to him in front off a failed wrap-around attempt by Drew Stafford.

The puck rolled off Stafford’s stick right to Ennis who had an empty net to shoot at.

Stafford then tied the game at 15:46 when he grabbed a rebound and went around Anderson who was down and out on the play.

Considering the history between these two clubs, even dating back to just this season where the previous three games between the clubs produced a total seven goals including one in a shootout, it’s no surprise that there was just one goal scored through the opening 40 minutes.

Karlsson got that goal when he shot from along the boards eluded Enroth to give the Senators a 1-0 lead just 3:12 into the second period.

Despite seven power plays between the clubs through the first two periods there weren’t a lot of quality scoring chances.

One the Sabres did have though came late in the second when Stafford drove the Senators net from just above the goal line but he was unable tip the puck through Anderson.

Notes- Forwards Linus Omark and Marcus Foligno along with defenceman Tyler Myers were scratches for the Sabres Thursday. Scratches for the Senators were defencemen Chris Phillips and Joe Corvo plus forward Matt Kassian….Senators forward Bobby Ryan has gone four consecutive games without a point, his longest such streak this season…The Senators are 10-0-3 in games this season when captain Jason Spezza has at least two points…Matt D’Agostini played his 300th NHL game Thursday night and his 25th with the Sabres…While the Senators have a game in Boston Saturday, the game Thursday was the last for the Sabres until after the Olympic break. The team will be off until Feb. 25 except for Ryan Miller (USA), Jonas Enroth (Sweden), Henrik Tallinder (Sweden) and Zemgus Girgensons (Latvia) who will all represent their countries at the Sochi Olympics. Sabres coach Ted Nolan will also be the head coach of Team Latvia.