BUFFALO (LGS) — Just when the Buffalo Sabres came back from a 3-0 deficit, the Ottawa Senators found a way put the game away yet again – and they did it quickly.

Dany Heatley and Daniel Alfredsson scored goals late in the third period two minutes apart and Cody Bass picked up his first NHL goal as the Senators outlasted the Sabres 5-3 at HSBC Arena on Friday night.

Ottawa opened the scoring when Senators defenseman Andrej Meszaros fired a shot from the point that deflected of Sens forward Mike Fisher and then off Bass for Bass's first career goal.

The first period was chippy as Sabres enforcer Andrew Peters and Senators enforcer Brian McGrattan got into an uneventful fight early in the first period. About ten minutes later, Mike Ryan hit Senators defenseman Anton Volchenkov from behind, leading to a wrestling match between Ryan and Senators forward Shean Donovan. Just minutes before, Volchenkov delivered a devastating body check to Sabres forward Daniel Paille, who didn't return following the hit.

Ottawa struck early in the second after Henrik Tallinder shut the puck over the glass and received a delay of game penalty 48 seconds into the period. Moments later, Meszaros ripped a slap shot by Sabres goaltender Ryan Miller for the 2-0 lead. It was Meszaros' seventh goal of the season.

Then at the 10:49 mark, Jason Spezza gave Ottawa a 3-0 lead. Spezza wristed a shot past Miller after grabbing up a loose puck, giving Spezza his 15th goal of the season.

Following Spezza's goal, Miller was pulled for Jocelyn Thibault and the Sabres responded immediately. Just 15 seconds after Spezza's goal, Sabres forward Thomas Vanek fed a pass to Ales Kotalik who put one past Ottawa goalie Ray Emery to cut the deficit to 3-1. It was Kotalik's 13th of the season, and the first of two assists on the night for Vanek.

The Sabres got two quick goals midway through the period to tie the game. Jochen Hecht scored his 14th of the season on a nifty backhand deflection. Jason Pominville's point shot was deflected by Vanek and again by Hecht to cut the lead to 3-2. Then 2:18 later, Michael Ryan tied the game on an ugly goal. Ryan attempted to center the puck to Paul Gaustad, but the puck deflected off Emery's goal stick and into the net to even the game at 3.

Heatley and Alfredsson then added two quick goals off outside shots and Ottawa made the lead stand.

LGS GAME NOTES

♦ This is the first five game losing streak for the Sabres since 2005-06, when they lost six in a row from March 18-27, including two to Ottawa.

♦ Prior to tonight, the losing streak had not been kind to Thomas Vanek. Vanek had been held pointless and was a -3 rating in the four losses. Tonight, he had two assists and was a -1.

♦ If the Sabres are going to snap out of this funk, they will need to do it on the road. The Sabres travel to Atlanta, New Jersey and Ottawa next week before returning back to HSBC Arena to play New Jersey. After their January 18 meeting with the Atlanta Thrashers in Buffalo, the Sabres will then play seven games on the road before coming back to HSBC Arena February 6 to play, you guessed it, the New Jersey Devils.

♦ Drew Stafford and Mike Ryan both took advantage of increased ice time. Stafford was on the ice for 16:27, while Ryan was out there for 15:07. Stafford recorded an assist on Ryan's goal that tied the game in the third period. Ryan tied Tim Connolly for the team lead in shots tonight with 5.

♦ Only two players recorded a plus rating tonight: Paul Gaustad (+1) and Stafford (+1). Coincidentally, both players were on a line tonight and played exactly 16:27 apiece.

♦ The stat of the night: The combined numbers for Heatley, Spezza and Alfredsson: 3 goals, 2 assists, +8 plus/minus rating and 11 shots on goal.

MY TAKE

The Sabres need to snap out of this and fast. A win against Atlanta is possible and the Sabres have had great success against Southeast Division teams this season. After that though, the Sabres face uphill battles against New Jersey (twice) and Ottawa, not to mention the trip to Madison Square Garden to face the star-studded cast that is the New York Rangers. The three goals tonight were steps in the right direction. The team showed some desire and passion before the Sens put this game away.

If the Sabres can get out of January, February and March are more favorable for them. The playoffs aren't out of the question yet. The Sabres still are sitting in 10th place in the Eastern Conference. So these road trips in January are important and the cushy home schedule in February and March will be a great step towards the playoffs.