The Ottawa Senators faced a difficult start without captain Brady Tkachuk, resulting in their third straight loss.
Backup goalie Leevi Merilainen struggled, and the team couldn't recover from an 8-4 loss to the Buffalo Sabres at the KeyBank Center.
Despite these efforts, Merilainen's struggles led to the team's defeat.
No comment from the team or players was provided.
Author's summary: Senators lose 8-4 to Sabres without captain Brady Tkachuk.