The Buffalo Sabres decided that this season would mark the “Next Chapter” in their franchise’s history. After a disastrous season last year and the year before, in which they had the worst record in the NHL, the Sabres set out to put the losing past behind them and start anew this year as they opened the season at home against the Ottawa Senators.

The Sabres have an entirely new roster with the additions of Evander Kane, Ryan O’Reilly, Sam Reinhart, Cody Franson and Robin Lehner. The Senators, who narrowly lost to Montreal in the playoffs last season, had different plans and showed the Sabres how a playoff team looks, getting a 3-1 victory. 

The Sabres may have lost, but the arrival of Jack Eichel should make Sabres fans very happy. The second overall pick out of Boston University in this year’s NHL Entry Draft was out on the powerplay in the third period with his team down 2-0 and needing a spark. Eichel was in good position and was found by his teammate Marcus Foligno wide open in front of the net. He caught the pass, settled in, and with great composure fired a beautiful wrist shot high above Craig Anderson and in off the bar.

Eichel’s debut was a great success, but he and the Sabres as a team will be heading back to watch the film because the Senators spoiled the opening night party almost immediately when Kyle Turris scored on new goalie Robin Lehner just 30 seconds into the game. The Sabres looked flat all the way into the third period and it showed on the scoreboard with Turris scoring again this time on Chad Johnson after Robin Lehner left with a lower body injury in the second to give the Senators a 2-0 lead up until Eichel’s first career goal.

After Eichel scored, the Sabres seemed to regain a lot of momentum and it seemed that they had evened the game off an Evander Kane goal, however, it would be disallowed after an Ottawa coach’s challenge found the Sabres to be offsides. This did not seem to stop the Sabres momentum and they kept pushing the Senators and even hit the post on a shot. The Senators would get the insurance goal on an empty net shot by Curtis Lazar and would hold that lead to the finish. 

The Sabres will look ahead to Saturday to try to get their first win at home against the defending Eastern Conference Champions the Tampa Bay Lightning, while the Senators will head to the Air Canada Center in Toronto to take on the Toronto Maple Leafs. Toronto lost to Montreal last night and is still trying to improve under new head coach Mike Babcock.