The Sabers were coming off a 2-1 loss at Detroit on Saturday, a game they largely controlled at 5-on-5, but lost thanks to special teams. Ruff’s message Monday was to not settle for the positives from this game, but rather recognize the need for a high level of consistency.

Facing an Ottawa team that entered Tuesday atop the NHL in hits per game, the Sabers were the aggressors from the start. Dylan Cozens threw an up-ice hit to Nick Cousins ​​and pushed Tkachuk in front of the Buffalo net. Beck Malenstyn sent Tyler Kleven loudly into the boards. All of this happened before Greenway’s hit on Stutzle at 5:59 of the first period.

The physicality grew even more late in the game when home defenseman Dennis Gilbert, in the lineup for the second time this season, dropped the gloves to try to fight Tkachuk.

“I think it’s very important,” Byram said of the Sabres’ physicality. “They have some big, strong, tough guys there. But I think we have a competitive team and no one is going to back down.

Victory also required mental determination. It started with Luukkonen, whose save on a Noah Gregor attempt during a 2-on-0 rush prevented the Senators from tying the game in the first period. Luukkonen finished the night with saves on six of the seven high-danger shots he faced.

“Probably the save of the game,” Ruff said of Gregor’s save. “This probably brings them back to a critical moment. Big mistake on our part but our goalkeeper helped us. And I think that’s the type of save you need that can ignite your team.

Ryan McLeod forced a turnover and lofted a pass from the left half-wall across the offensive zone to set up Byram’s one-timer in the first minute of the second period, a cushion that proved valuable after that Ridly Greig scored to bring the Senators back to one point. intermission.

The Sabers surged once again to open the third period, first with Byram’s goal on a point shot through traffic, then, just 16 seconds later, with Thompson’s goal, a shot from ‘Alex Tuch who deflected onto Thompson’s shoulder as he drove into the next crease. a rush of a strange man.

“I think Tuchy was kind enough to pass it off my shoulder while I was laying on the ice,” Thompson said. “So I owe him dinner or something.” Very altruistic of him.

It was also an element – ​​a “dirty” goal near the net – that the Sabers aim to make a core part of their identity, one of several elements on display Tuesday.

“Our penalty kill did a great job, our power play got us a few, our goaltender made some big saves,” Ruff said. “We blocked shots. Again, everything you’ll need to win a match. Some of the little plays you don’t see – cutting hands, getting in the way, slowing people down so our D can make better breakout passes.

“All the little things that make a big deal at the end of the night. I thought we had it all.

Here are more details on the victory against the Senators.