Senators edge Sabres 2-1 at KeyBank Center as Michael Amadio scores winner late in third

By Vancouver Television Sports Desk

The Ottawa Senators completed a late comeback to defeat the Buffalo Sabres 2-1 on Wednesday at KeyBank Center, with Michael Amadio providing the decisive goal late in the third period. Amadio scored at 16:51 after taking a pass from Tim Stutzle in the left circle and firing a one-timer to give Ottawa the lead.

Buffalo struck first at 14:00 of the second period when Peyton Krebs scored following a deflection in front of the Senators net. The goal came as Tage Thompson’s shot from above the slot was deflected off Krebs’ leg, beating Samuel Ersson on the blocker-side.

The Senators responded in the third period to even the score at 11:33. Shane Pinto netted the equalizer, and the scoring play involved a rebound chance after Buffalo goaltender Colten Ellis stopped Philip Tomasino’s shot. The rebound popped out in front, and Pinto swept it past Ellis using a backhand that went by the left skate.

From there, both teams created opportunities in the decisive stretch before Amadio’s winner arrived. Amadio’s goal followed the setup from Stutzle, who connected with him in the left-circle area; Amadio then converted from close range on the one-timer at 16:51 to put Ottawa ahead for good.

Samuel Ersson finished with 24 saves for Ottawa as the Senators improved to a 10-6-1 record. The Senators’ goaltending helped them hold the lead after Amadio’s goal, maintaining control during the final minutes after the game shifted in Ottawa’s favour in the third period.

On the Buffalo side, Ellis made 28 saves in the loss. The Sabres dropped to a 7-5-3 record, and their three-game winning streak ended with the defeat despite the team getting the early lead in the second period.

The timeline of scoring underscored how the contest evolved. After Buffalo took the advantage when Krebs scored off the deflection from Thompson’s shot, the game remained 1-0 heading into the third period. Pinto’s equalizer at 11:33 shifted momentum, and the Senators took control again when Amadio scored at 16:51.

With the result, Ottawa secured the two-goal margin needed to close out the game, while Buffalo was left to respond after losing the lead late. The win moved Ottawa beyond the point in the standings reflected by their 10-6-1 record, as the Senators built their comeback around timely finishing in the third period.

For Buffalo, the loss punctuated a stretch of success that had carried them into Wednesday, with the Sabres previously riding a three-game winning run. Even though the streak ended, the combination of Krebs’ early goal and Ellis’ 28 saves kept the game close until Amadio’s late third-period strike.

The Senators’ victory also highlighted the playmaking connection leading to the winner. Amadio’s go-ahead goal came directly off a pass from Tim Stutzle from the left-circle area, demonstrating how Ottawa’s third-period surge translated into the decisive scoring touch late in the game.

Ottawa will look to carry forward the confidence of a third-period comeback, while Buffalo will aim to regroup after the first 1-goal defeat since the run of games that preceded it. The matchup at KeyBank Center ended with the final score 2-1 in favour of the Senators, following goals by Krebs, Pinto and Amadio, and goaltending totals of 24 saves for Ersson and 28 for Ellis.