Kyle Turris got off to a good start in his new home with the Ottawa Senators.
The 22-year-old former No. 3 overall draft pick of the Phoenix Coyotes drew an assist on Erik Condra's game-winning tally that sparked a three-goal third period and a 4-1 win over the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday.
Turris, playing in his first game for the Senators after being acquired from the Coyotes last Saturday, forced a turnover in the neutral zone. Condra dropped a pass to Turris, whose initial shot was stopped by Buffalo goalie Ryan Miller.
The 6-1, 195-pound Turris batted the ensuing rebound across the goal crease where Condra was there to put the puck into the open net.
It was the first point of the NHL season for Turris.
The New Westminster centre played just over 16 minutes in his debut with Ottawa, finishing the game as a plus-two.
Turris centered the line of Condra and Nick Foligno. Condra also picked up a second goal in the game, his sixth, into an empty net.
"I thought Kyle was a real good player for us," Senators coach Paul MacLean said in an NHL. com release. "He did a good job in the faceoff circle. I thought as the game wore on, his game progressed. I thought it was a solid game by his line."
Turris was picked up by the Senators in a trade that sent rookie defenceman David Rundblad to the Coyotes along with a second-round pick in 2012.
Turris began the regular season as a restricted free agent but chose to hold out for six weeks before finally inking a two-year $2.8 million deal with Phoenix on Nov. 23 just days before the signing deadline.
He had no points in six games with the Coyotes.
"I'm very happy to be back in Canada and excited and really looking forward to playing back on Canadian soil," Turris told Rob Brodie of Ottawa Senators.com following his first practice with the Sens on Monday.
