Mike Hoffman scored his first career hat trick but it came in a losing cause as the Buffalo Sabres power play set the tone and the visitors skated out of Canadian Tire Centre with a 5-4 win. The loss snaps the Senators four game winning streak.

Ottawa got off to a dreadful start, and their penalty kill, which was lights out for a stretch in November, let them down again as Buffalo counted on their first two man advantages and three of five overall. They have allowed six power play goals on 18 chances in their last five games. Ottawa answered with a pair of power play goals of their own, but it wasn't enough in the end.

Every time Ottawa seemed to gain some momentum they would either take a penalty, allow a goal or get one of their own called back. It wasn't the sharpest game from Craig Anderson either, but he could hardly be blamed for some of the goals, including the ones that went in off of his own players or the feet of Sabres players.

Robin Lehner started the game in the Sabres net, but left late in the first period after tweaking something in his left leg. Anders Nilsson came in to relieve the former Senators goalie, and he certainly provided multiple opportunities for the Senators to stay in the game. Ottawa couldn't capitalize on enough of those chances and Buffalo managed to hang onto the two points.

Jack Eichel made his return, and made an impact in the first period, with a goal and an assist. He wasn't as noticable later on, which you might have expected for a guy playing his first game in 7 weeks off a high ankle sprain. Ryan O'Reilly led the way with 3 points, including the game winner among his two goals, while Sam Reinhart, Kyle Okposo and defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen each had multi-point games.


Hoffman was in on all four Ottawa goals, adding an assist on Mark Stone's power play goal to his hat trick, while Stone also added an assist and Erik Karlsson had two helpers.

A big concern for Ottawa going forward is the fact that they lost two key players to injury as Bobby Ryan left in the first period and Marc Methot late in the second. Ryan seemed to be having problems with his broken finger and Methot looked to be having pain in his lower back or hip area following a big hip check he delivered along the boards. He tried to play through it but didn't come back for the third period.

Combine that with the fact that Craig Anderson is about to take another leave to be with his wife and that is three more key pieces that might not be available to Guy Boucher on Thursday night against the Flyers.

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