The Ottawa Senators faced off against the Buffalo Sabres on March 25, 2025, in a highly anticipated matchup that carried significant emotional weight for both teams. The game, held at the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, marked the first meeting since a notable trade between the two franchises earlier in the month.
As the puck dropped at 7 p.m. ET, all eyes were on Dylan Cozens, who returned to Buffalo after being traded to the Senators on March 7. Cozens had spent the first five seasons of his NHL career with the Sabres and was eager to prove himself against his former team. In the lead-up to the game, he had recorded seven points (three goals and four assists) in his first eight games with Ottawa, showcasing his offensive prowess.
On the other side, the Sabres had acquired Josh Norris and Jacob Bernard-Docker in the same trade that sent Cozens to Ottawa. Norris, who had shown promise with a goal and an assist in his first three games with Buffalo, was sidelined due to an undisclosed injury, missing his sixth consecutive game. Bernard-Docker, however, had made a noticeable impact, contributing two assists in his debut against the Winnipeg Jets just two days prior.
The Senators entered the game with a strong record, having gone 7-2-1 in their last ten games. They had been scoring at an impressive rate, averaging 3.60 goals per game during that stretch, bolstered by a power play that was clicking at 26.7%. Brady Tkachuk was leading the charge with six goals in that span, while teammates David Perron, Michael Amadio, Drake Batherson, and Shane Pinto each contributed four goals.
Despite the Senators' recent success, the Sabres were not to be underestimated. They had just secured a 5-3 victory against the Western Conference-leading Winnipeg Jets, showcasing their ability to compete at a high level. However, the Sabres had struggled defensively, allowing an average of 4.18 goals against per game in their last eleven outings, the worst in the NHL during that period.
As the game unfolded, the Sabres took the lead with a goal from Jack Quinn, followed by another from Jacob Bernard-Docker. The Senators responded with power-play goals from Tkachuk and Perron, tying the game at two. However, it was Tage Thompson who would ultimately seal the fate of the game, scoring the go-ahead goal just 1:23 into the third period, leading the Sabres to a 3-2 victory.
This win was particularly significant for Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff, who achieved his 600th victory as a head coach with the franchise, becoming only the second coach in NHL history to reach this milestone with one team. Ruff’s record with Buffalo now stands at 600-467-90 with 78 ties, trailing only Al Arbor, who won 740 games with the New York Islanders.
For the Senators, the loss was a missed opportunity to solidify their playoff position, as they began the day sitting seventh in the Eastern Conference, just four points ahead of the eighth-place Montreal Canadiens. Despite the setback, Dylan Cozens continued to shine, assisting on Tkachuk’s opening goal and extending his point streak to eight of nine games since the trade.
Both teams will look to regroup as they head into the final stretch of the season. The Senators will close out their three-game road trip against the Detroit Red Wings, while the Sabres will host the Pittsburgh Penguins in their next matchup.
In summary, the Senators and Sabres game on March 25 was not just a contest for points in the standings, but a narrative woven with personal stakes, as players faced off against former teammates and coaches celebrated significant milestones. The emotional intensity of the game, combined with the high stakes of playoff positioning, made for an unforgettable night in Buffalo.
