The Ottawa Senators faced a difficult start without captain Brady Tkachuk, losing 8-4 to the Buffalo Sabres.
Backup goalie Leevi Merilainen struggled, and the Senators couldn't recover from the loss. Goals from Lars Eller, Shane Pinto, Jake Sanderson, and Tim Stutzle were not enough to save the team.
The loss marks the Senators' third straight defeat.
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Author's summary: Senators lose 8-4 to Sabres without captain Brady Tkachuk.