Senators 3, Sabres 1

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BUFFALO - Daniel Alfredsson had a goal and assist and the Ottawa Senators won consecutive games for only the sixth time this season, beating the Buffalo Sabres 3-1 on Wednesday night.

Jason Spezza, with only his second goal in nine games, and Shean Donovan also scored for the Senators, who completed a home-and-home sweep against the Sabres following a 3-2 shootout win at Scotiabank Place on Saturday.

Rookie Brian Elliott made 31 saves in a game Ottawa opened by building a 3-0 lead before Ales Kotalik scored a power-play goal two minutes into the third period.

The Senators improved to 2-1-1 under new coach Cory Clouston, and have an opportunity to win three in a row for the first time this season at Philadelphia on Thursday night (7 p.m., Rogers Sportsnet, Team 1200).

The Sabres' offence looked totally lost in its first game without leading scorer Thomas Vanek, who's out for about a month after breaking his jaw at Ottawa on Saturday. The power-play unit was particularly affected without Vanek, who entered the day still leading the NHL with 15 power-play goals.

Buffalo finished 1-of-12 with the man advantage and failed to score on its first eight chances before Kotalik blasted a shot in from the left circle. The Sabres were booed off the ice following the second period and their star players continue to struggle. Jason Pominville extended his goal drought to a career-worst 17 games, while Derek Roy hasn't scored in seven.

Spezza opened the scoring with a power-play goal six minutes in when Alfredsson's pass through the crease deflected in of Spezza's skate at the left post. The goal was allowed to stand after a review, even though replays appeared to show Spezza turned his skate at the last second.

Donovan, playing his first game after missing eight with a knee injury, scored midway through the second period as the Senators capitalized on a terrible giveway by Sabres defender Mike Weber inside the Buffalo zone. Alfredsson then scored on a second-period power-play chance, blasting a shot from the right circle which trickled in just under Ryan Miller's right arm.

Notes: The Senators kicked off a road trip in which they'll play five games in seven days, concluding at Colorado on Tuesday night ... Senators RW Chris Neil missed his first game after sustaining a calf injury against Buffalo on Saturday ... Sabres D Teppo Numminen did not play in the third period after sustaining what the team called an upper body injury.... Senators C Chris Kelly had a goal disallowed seven minutes into the second period because teammate Jarkko Ruutu was penalized for goaltender interference for bowling over Miller in the crease before Kelly wrapped the puck into the open side ... The Sabres' 12 power-play opportunities were the most by a team this season.