Sabres continue dominance against Senators this season; Sabres hand Senators 3-2 loss

After defeating the New Jersey Devils 3-2 this past Saturday night, the Ottawa Senators headed to Buffalo for their third meeting against the Buffalo Sabres this season.

The Senators had two previous games against the Sabres that went awful. Both games resulting in losses by four goals. Just like the Montreal Canadiens one week ago, the third time wouldn't be the charm against the Sabres.

The Sabres defeated the Senators 3-2 at KeyBank Center to drop the Senators to 37-28-5 on the season. Despite being the worst team in the Eastern Conference, the Senators have fallen in all three games against the Sabres this season, and have lost three of their last four games.

The road trip to Buffalo would be an emotional one for Dylan Cozens as he made his return to Buffalo after being traded to the Senators on March 7.

Cozens made an impact against his old team immediately when he recorded the secondary assist on Brady Tkachuk's powerplay goal 1:35 into the game. The goal was highlighted by Drake Batherson's beautiful pass to Tkachuk. However, the Senators' first period momentum was gone when Jack Quinn tied the game with 1:29 remaining in the first period.

In the second period, the Senators scored another powerplay goal. This time from David Perron. With his goal, Perron has scored a powerplay goal in back-to-back games, but just like the first period, momentum was gone before the second period ended.

After recording his first ever two-point game on Sunday, ex-Senator Jacob Bernard-Docker scored his first goal as a Sabre to tie the game at two. With the Senators and Sabres tied at two after 40 minutes, a pivotal third period awaited.

Tage Thompson scored the only goal of the third period just 1:23 in to give the Sabres a 3-2 lead. Behind James Reimer stopping all 13 shots on goal in the third period and finishing with 30 saves total, Buffalo stood tall to earn the win.

Anton Forsberg started in goal for the Senators and finished with 21 saves. Forsberg has earned the loss in back-to-back starts against the Sabres.

With losing another game to the Sabres in regulation, the Senators have let six huge points go away for the playoff push this season. Despite the loss, the Senators' 79 points on the season still has them in the first Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference.

The Senators will return to action this Thursday night when they head to Little Caesars Arena for a clash against the Detroit Red Wings in the Motor City. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET.

The Senators will look to take the season series against the Red Wings. In the last game against the Red Wings on March 10, the Senators earned a huge 2-1 win in regulation. All three games against the Red Wings this season were decided by one goal.