Following a 3-1 loss in Boston on Thursday, the Sabres are back at it tonight in Ottawa in hope of beating the Senators.
Thanks to Vancouver and Calgary for beating up on Winnipeg the past two nights, the Sabres remain just two points out of a playoff spot, behind Washington.
The Capitals play the Bruins at 1 p.m. EST today and Sabres fans will have to root for a Boston victory.
Tonight is the final meeting of the season between Buffalo and Ottawa. The Senators have won three of the first five, including the last three. After losing seven straight, Ottawa have gone 9-3-1 and put a gap between themselves and 8th place.
As usual, the Sabres will have to keep an eye on Jason Spezza. Spezza has 22 points in his past 13 games.
“I think a lot of guys’ confidence is up a little bit,” Ryan Miller said. “I think a lot of it kind of stems from us playing a system that has been consistent. We haven’t changed too much of our neutral zone or forecheck or D-zone coverage in the last month and a half, two months and that’s been the difference.” -NHL.com
“The Sabres will also be relieved to see only two more back-to-back sets on the schedule out of their NHL-leading 21. They’re 12-7 on the front end, but 6-8-5 in the second game. They have averaged just two goals in their last six road games and their 62 goals in 33 away games is at the bottom of the NHL.” – NHL.com
Ryan Miller will be back in goal for the Sabres tonight. He has struggled against the Senators over his career, going 13-16-3. At the other end it will be Ben Bishop for the Senators. Bishop has never faced Buffalo, but is 6-5-1 with a .270 GAA and .901 save percentage in his NHL career.
Tonight’s game is scheduled for 7 p.m. EST.