Ottawa Senators right wing Chris Neil (25) ties up Buffalo Sabres defenseman Josh Gorges during third-period NHL hockey game action Saturday, Nov. 5, 2016, in Ottawa, Ontario. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)
The Associated Press
OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) - The Ottawa Senators were hoping one day Robin Lehner would be their No. 1 goalie. On Saturday night, he came back to town and beat them as a member of the Buffalo Sabres.
Acquired from Ottawa before last season, Lehner made 31 saves in Buffalo's 2-1 comeback victory.
"That's the big reason why we won," Sabres forward Sam Reinhart said about Lehner's play. "He was the one guy for the full 60 minutes that gave it his all and was really the big reason why we won that game."
Kyle Okposo and Reinhart scored in the third period to help the Sabres rally for their fourth win in five games.
Okposo tied it early in the period when he tipped a point shot from Jake McCabe past Craig Anderson.
The Sabres took their first lead when Reinhart took advantage of a turnover at the side of the Ottawa goal. Anderson stopped the first shot, but Reinhart was able to jam a loose puck in between the skate of Anderson and the post at 8:22.
"It was kind of an in-tight play and kind of lucky the way it worked out and was able to come back and be on the right side of the goalie," Reinhart said.
The Senators had an opportunity to tie it with a four-minute power play after Dmitry Kulikov got a high stick into the face of Bobby Ryan, but were unable to produce.
Mike Hoffman scored for Ottawa, and Anderson made 30 saves.
"I think the game could have went either way and I think both teams played pretty good and had chances but Lehner did play really well," Hoffman said. "We were generating chances, which is, at the end of the day, what we want to do. Some days they're going to go in, unfortunately this was one of those days that things didn't go our way."
Notes: The Sabres have won back-to-back games against the Senators for the first time in five years. ... Sabres forward William Carrier played his first NHL game.
UP NEXT:
The Sabres will conclude their two-game road swing against Boston on Monday night before returning home for a rematch with the Senators on Wednesday night.
The Senators are at Nashville on Tuesday night.
Buffalo Sabres center Sam Reinhart (23) tries to screen Ottawa Senators goalie Craig Anderson, right, under pressure from Senators defenseman Marc Methot during third-period NHL hockey game action Saturday, Nov. 5, 2016, in Ottawa, Ontario. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)
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Ottawa Senators goalie Craig Anderson (41) and Ryan Dzingel, right, watch as Buffalo Sabres center Sam Reinhart scores behind Anderson into the net during third-period NHL hockey game action Saturday, Nov. 5, 2016, in Ottawa, Ontario. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)
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The Ottawa Senators trainer, right, helps right wing Bobby Ryan skate off the ice after being hit with a high stick by Buffalo Sabres defenseman Dmitry Kulikov during third-period NHL hockey game action Saturday, Nov. 5, 2016, in Ottawa, Ontario. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)
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Ottawa Senators right wing Bobby Ryan skates off the ice after being hit with a high stick by Buffalo Sabres defenceman Dmitry Kulikov during third-period NHL hockey game action Saturday, Nov. 5, 2016, in Ottawa, Ontario. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)
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Ottawa Senators goalie Craig Anderson and Chris Neil react as Buffalo Sabres center Sam Reinhart celebrates his winning goal with center Zemgus Girgensons during third-period NHL hockey game action Saturday, Nov. 5, 2016, in Ottawa, Ontario. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)
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Ottawa Senators left wing Mike Hoffman celebrates his second-period NHL hockey game action against the Buffalo Sabres, Saturday, Nov. 5, 2016, in Ottawa, Ontario. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)
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Ottawa Senators defenseman Mark Borowiecki , right, takes Buffalo Sabres center Sam Reinhart into the boards during second-period NHL hockey game action Saturday, Nov. 5, 2016, in Ottawa, Ontario. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)
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Buffalo Sabres goalie Robin Lehner stops Ottawa Senators right wing Mark Stone from scoring during second-period NHL hockey game action Saturday, Nov. 5, 2016, in Ottawa, Ontario. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)
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Buffalo Sabres centrer Zemgus Girgensons collides with Ottawa Senators defenseman Mark Borowiecki during first-period NHL hockey game action Saturday, Nov. 5, 2016, in Ottawa, Ontario. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)
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Ottawa Senators left wing Mike Hoffman celebrates his second-period NHL hockey game action against the Buffalo Sabres, Saturday, Nov. 5, 2016, in Ottawa, Ontario. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)
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Buffalo Sabres centre Ryan O'Reilly, center, tries to put the puck past Ottawa Senators goalie Craig Anderson under pressure from Senators defenseman Erik Karlsson during first-period NHL hockey game action Saturday, Nov. 5, 2016, in Ottawa, Ontario. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)
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Buffalo Sabres right wing Brian Gionta, center, tries to tip a shot past Ottawa Senators goalie Craig Anderson, right, as Senators defenseman Cody Ceci looks on during first-period NHL hockey game action Saturday, Nov. 5, 2016, in Ottawa, Ontario. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)
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