Houser, Sabres defeat Senators for second win in past 10 games

OTTAWA -- Michael Houser made 43 saves in his season debut for the Buffalo Sabres, a 3-1 win against the Ottawa Senators at Canadian Tire Centre on Tuesday.

"It's fun to see the boys so happy, not only for me but for a win," Houser said. "I think we've been playing pretty well, at least since I've been here. I've watched quite a bit of the games from Rochester (of the American Hockey League), and the team is playing so much better than last year and the beginning of this year too. You can see the team getting better. To be a part of it and to get a win for the boys, it feels really good."
Houser signed a one-year contract with Buffalo on Jan. 12 and made his first NHL start since May 8, 2021, a 1-0 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins. He is the sixth goalie used by the Sabres this season.
Dylan Cozens and Alex Tuch each had a goal and an assist for Buffalo (12-20-7), which won for the second time in 10 games (2-5-3).
Drake Batherson scored, and Anton Forsberg made 29 saves for Ottawa (11-19-2), which had won two in a row.
"We did a lot of great things," Senators coach D.J. Smith said. "We had probably the most chances that I can remember. Their goalie was really good, and we gave up a weak one in the first."

Cozens made it 1-0 with a quick shot off the rush at 12:07 of the first period.
Batherson scored a power-play goal on his own rebound at the edge of the crease to tie it 1-1 at 7:44 of the second period.
"You know, some goaltenders, when there's a breakdown in front of them, they give up a goal and they put their arms in the air like the guys in front of them had a breakdown and that's why the goal went in," Sabres coach Don Granato said. "And then there's other goaltenders that, when there's a breakdown in front of them, they welcome it. They say, 'This is why I'm a goaltender. I want shots. I want opportunities.' And Michael is that type of personality."
Mark Jankowski gave Buffalo a 2-1 lead at 10:03 of the third period. After Sabres forward Kyle Okposo was hit by Senators defenseman Erik Brannstrom, and it seemed like play would be stopped, Jankowski took the puck from Ottawa defenseman Josh Brown and scored on a breakaway.
"I was forechecking, so I didn't really see what was going on until I turned up ice and saw the whole thing at the bench there," Jankowski said. "[Ottawa's defensemen] were kind of gliding up the ice a bit and I didn't hear the [referees] blow a whistle, so I was like, I'm going to see if I can get this puck. I lifted [Brown's] stick and took the puck and got lucky that they didn't blow the whistle."

Brown took the blame for the goal.
"We learn as kids to play until you hear the whistle, so it's my fault for sure," he said. "I've just got to get rid of that puck, just ice it, dump it or something, just not that. It's a tough way to lose a game, I guess. But that's on me. If I don't hear a whistle I have to keep playing."
Okposo went to the locker room after the play and did not return to the game. Granato did not have an update but said he is "concerned."
Tuch scored into an empty net with 40 seconds remaining for the 3-1 final.
"I was pumped," Houser said. "Any time you can seal it with an empty-netter and run out the last 40 seconds with a two-goal lead, I like our chances. It's much better than them buzzing around 6-on-5, [and] us only up a goal. It was more fun to play that last 40 seconds after [Tuch] buried that."
NOTES: Senators goalie Matt Murray was a late scratch with a non-COVID-19 illness. Smith said postgame he is questionable for practice Wednesday. … Houser made his NHL debut in 2020-21 for the Sabres and was 2-2-0 with a 3.46 goals-against average and .901 save percentage in four games. … Cozens' goal was his first since Dec. 16, ending a six-game drought. … Tuch has scored seven points (two goals, five assists) in seven games with Sabres this season. The forward had shoulder surgery in the offseason and was traded to Buffalo on Nov. 4 in the deal the sent Jack Eichel to the Vegas Golden Knights. … Ottawa's 44 shots on goal were a season-high. … Batherson has scored three points (two goals, assist) during a three-game point streak.