{"id":369379,"date":"2025-12-24T18:50:09","date_gmt":"2025-12-24T18:50:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/369379\/"},"modified":"2025-12-24T18:50:09","modified_gmt":"2025-12-24T18:50:09","slug":"sabres-claw-their-way-to-overtime-win-over-senators","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/369379\/","title":{"rendered":"Sabres claw their way to overtime win over Senators"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ottawa, Ontario (WGR Sports Radio 550) – The Buffalo Sabres go into the three-day NHL holiday break riding a seven-game winning streak following a 3-2 overtime win over the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday night.<\/p>\n

The last time the Sabres accomplished anything close to this type of a winning streak was November of 2018 when they won 10 in-a-row.<\/p>\n

It took Bo Byram\u2019s overtime goal to beat the Senators in Ottawa on Tuesday. Byram didn\u2019t get a good piece of the puck when he received a cross-ice pass from Ryan McLeod, but it\u2019s a great thing to happen because Linus Ullmark was expecting a hard blast. Instead, he got a fluttering puck that evaded him.<\/p>\n

Byram was the star of the game with two goals and an assist.<\/p>\n

BO-VERTIME WINNER \u203c\ufe0f pic.twitter.com\/SHtjhTmi7W<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) December 24, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

Ever since their 3-1 win in Seattle over the Kraken, Buffalo has done a terrific job of defending one-goal leads in the third period with great puck management, patient play and above average goaltending. They decided to stop being bullheaded and play the game Lindy Ruff\u2019s way instead of doing their own thing.<\/p>\n

Even when Alex Tuch took a hooking penalty with 1:51 left in regulation time, the team just went about its business, killed the penalty and won it in overtime.<\/p>\n

I do have to say, this team has to stop their horrible habit of taking penalties late in games. It’s something that’s just not sustainable.<\/p>\n

Noah Ostlund tipped in a Byram point shot in the second period to give Buffalo a 2-1 lead.<\/p>\n

Noah Ostlund putting in WORK in front of the net! \ud83d\ude24#LetsGoBuffalo<\/a> | #sabrehood<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/47uZ55p5uE<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) December 24, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

It was interesting chatting with him after the game. Ostlund had told teams he was going to play two years of professional hockey in Sweden before coming to North America. That seemed to make him a more mature player when the 21-year-old got here.<\/p>\n

In 52 career games with the Rochester Americans, Ostlund scored 22 goals and added 24 assists for 46 points. In 25 games with Buffalo this season, he has six goals and nine points.<\/p>\n

Since switching to the wing, the 21-year-old has played just as well as he had in his natural position of center. Ostlund revealed Tuesday that the last time he had played wing on a regular basis was in Sweden, and said he hadn\u2019t played wing all that much.<\/p>\n

While Ostlund’s probably the smallest guy on the team, he\u2019s always winning battles. He says he can do that against larger players by having good stick position.<\/p>\n

Another key part of the Sabres’ “new” game is the line of Josh Dunne, Jordan Greenway and Beck Malenstyn.<\/p>\n

In Ottawa, they spent all night forechecking hard in the offensive zone, getting pucks and players to the crease. Those three, along with Tyson Kozak and Peyton Krebs, usually make up that line and set a tone every night.<\/p>\n

Alex Lyon was, again, in net and was there for the big saves when things did break down. Lyon has now won six-straight starts, and has been a huge piece in this winning streak for Buffalo.<\/p>\n

If he keeps playing like this, the decision for general manager Jarmo Kekalainen should be, which young goaltender will he keep with Lyon? Devon Levi also has to be part of that decision with Colten Ellis and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen.<\/p>\n

I always do the NHL standings by points percentage, because it takes games in-hand out of the equation:<\/p>\n

Buffalo has a points percentage of .556, which has vaulted them over six teams. They still need to get past the Senators and Washington Capitals to get to the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.<\/p>\n

Things get back going on Saturday when the Sabres host the Boston Bruins.<\/p>\n