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Senators 4, Sabres 3

OTTAWA -- For the first time this season, Ottawa goaltender Craig Anderson gave up goals after the first period.

However, his teammates rediscovered their way to the score sheet, so the Senators managed to win anyway.

Four different players lit the lamp as Ottawa defeated the Buffalo Sabres 4-3 Tuesday at Scotiabank Place.

Nobody was surprised at the close result -- it was the 32nd time in the past 41 meetings between the two teams that the game was decided by two goals or fewer.

The uncommon occurrence was Anderson being beaten in the second and third periods. Through his first eight starts, all nine goals he had allowed were scored in the first period of play.

Also different was some noise from an Ottawa attack that had managed just one goal in two games since top-scoring center Jason Spezza had back surgery.

Picking up the slack were defenseman Erik Karlsson and Chris Phillips, and wingers Daniel Alfredsson and Chris Neil.

Scoring for the Sabres were Tyler Ennis, Jordan Leopold and Jason Pominville.

The Sabres had a wild flurry in the final minute, but they couldn't get the equalizer.

The win snapped a two-game Senators losing streak and improved Ottawa's record to 6-3-1. For the Sabres, it was their third loss in a row. They are now 3-6-1.

Anderson, who improved his record to 6-2-1, stopped 20 shots. Jhonas Enroth made 20 saves.

NOTES: The Senators have faced the opponent's backup goalie in three of the past four games ... Enroth, who entered the night with a 5.26 goals-against average and .854 save percentage in two previous appearances this season, is still looking for his first win since Nov. 26, 2011, a stretch that had seen him compile a 0-10-3 record. Sabres coach Lindy Ruff no doubt considered Enroth's career record versus Ottawa (3-0-1, 2.16 GAA, .939 save percentage) when making the decision on a starting goalie. ... Recalled from AHL Binghamton on Monday, Ottawa's Stephane Da Costa is only the second player born in France currently playing in the NHL. The other is Dallas Stars winger Antoine Roussel ... Senators center Peter Regin's assist in the first period was his first point in 10 games this season. He added another assist in the second period. ... It was fitting that Leopold scored his first goal of the season. He had three goals and six points against the Senators in 2011-12.