Fisher scores in shootout to gives Sens first win since coaching change

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Game Information

Arena: Scotiabank Place Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Referees: Mike Hasenfratz Linesmen: Steve Miller, Mark Shewchyk

Attendance: 18,452 (99.7% full)

Team Stat Comparison
242	Goals	213
229	Goals Against	231
75	Power Play Goals	66
61	Power Play Goals Allowed	64
7	Shorthanded Goals	8
5	Shorthanded Goals Allowed	5
1121	Penalty Minutes	1098
14	Average Penalty Minutes	13

Scoring Summary
1ST PERIOD			BUF	OTT
No scoring this period			0	0
2ND PERIOD			BUF	OTT
10:28		Nick Foligno (Power Play) Assists: Brendan Bell, Jason Spezza	0	1
17:08		Antoine Vermette Unassisted	0	2
3RD PERIOD			BUF	OTT
1:06		Adam Mair Assists: Tim Connolly, Matt Ellis	1	2
7:25		Drew Stafford (Power Play) Assists: Derek Roy, Jason Pominville	2	2
OT			BUF	OTT
No scoring this period			2	2
Shootout Summary
	Jason Spezza shootout attempt against Ryan Miller with a Backhand results in a SAVE.
	Ales Kotalik shootout attempt against Brian Elliott with a Backhand results in a GOAL.
	Jarkko Ruutu shootout attempt against Ryan Miller with a Backhand results in a GOAL.
	Drew Stafford shootout attempt against Brian Elliott with a Backhand results in a SAVE.
	Daniel Alfredsson shootout attempt against Ryan Miller with a Backhand results in a GOAL.
	Tim Connolly shootout attempt against Brian Elliott with a Backhand results in a GOAL.
	Mike Fisher shootout attempt against Ryan Miller with a Backhand results in a GOAL.
	Derek Roy shootout attempt against Brian Elliott with a Over Net results in a MISS.

OTTAWA -- The Ottawa Senators gave coach Cory Clouston his first victory in three games with the team.

Mike Fisher scored the winning goal in the fourth round of a shootout in Ottawa's 3-2 victory over the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday night.

"I just wanted to shake [Clouston's] hand afterwards and say congratulations," goalie Brian Elliott said.

Fast Facts

• Ryan Miller has allowed two goals in each of his last four starts.

• Tim Connolly failed to score for just the second time in his last eight games but picked up an assist to give him 10 points over that span (6 goals, 4 assists).

• Ottawa won for the first time in five games and for the first time since firing head coach Craig Hartsburg on Sunday.

• Nick Foligno scored in back-to-back games for the second time this season.

-- ESPN research

Fisher was the third straight Ottawa shooter to beat Buffalo goalie Ryan Miller in the tiebreaker, while Ottawa's Brian Elliott allowed two Sabres to score. The Senators won when Derek Roy shot over the net with the final shot.

Nick Foligno and Antoine Vermette scored in regulation for Ottawa.

"It's nice to get a win period, but to get it in the shootout is a bonus because we've struggled in them," said Jason Spezza, who assisted on Foligno's goal. "To get Cory his first win, we're really happy about it. We played with a little bit more confidence and we're starting to believe in ourselves and it shows."

Fisher was one of three Ottawa shooters to beat Buffalo goalie Ryan Miller in the tiebreaker, while Ottawa's Brian Elliott allowed two Sabres to score in the shootout. The Senators won when Roy shot over the net with the final shot.

Adam Mair and Drew Stafford scored for Buffalo.

"After playing last night [a 3-2 win over Montreal] I thought we played a real strong first period," Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said.

"We made a big mistake late in the second that cost us a goal, but I thought we came out at the start of the third focused and ready to go at it again. We gave ourselves a chance to win and that's all you can ask."

Sabres scoring leader Thomas Vanek left the ice after taking a puck in the face early in the first period. He did not return.

The Sabres overcame a 2-0 deficit in the third period.

Tim Connolly kept the puck in at the Senators' blue line before finding Mair all alone in front of Elliott. Mair tipped Connolly's pass in for Buffalo's first goal.

The Sabres then got their first power play, and Roy fed a pass to Stafford, who split the Senators' defense and beat Elliott with a backhander to tie it at 7:25.

After a scoreless and penalty-free first period, the Senators got the first power play of the game and made it count midway through the second period.

With Mair off for roughing, Foligno had a perfect tip on a point shot from Brenden Bell that beat Miller to give the Senators a 1-0 lead.

With less than 3 minutes to play in the period, Vermette grabbed the loose puck in the Senators end following a turnover and decided to shoot on the ensuing 2-on-1 rather than pass. His shot beat Miller high, but the goal was initially waved off and the play continued. When there finally was a whistle, the play was reviewed and Vermette was credited with his seventh goal of the season.

Game notes
Sabres F Maxim Afinogenov missed his 15th straight game Saturday with a groin injury while D Andrej Sekera (Ankle) and Henrik Tallinder (shoulder) have missed the past 11 and seven games respectively. ... F Shaun Donovan missed his eighth straight game for the Senators because of a lower-body injury, while D Alexandre Picard missed his third straight with an injury to his hand and wrist.