Sabres at Senators
The Ottawa Senators attempt to put some distance between themselves and the Eastern Conference basement Thursday as they return home from a four-game road trip to face the last-place Buffalo Sabres. Ottawa, which is just three points ahead of Buffalo, concluded its 2-2-0 trek with a 3-2 overtime win at Dallas on Monday.
Captain Erik Karlsson recorded his third multi-point performance in four games, setting up a goal before scoring the winner 2:41 into the extra session as the Senators tied Montreal for the least road wins in the conference. Buffalo failed to gain ground on Ottawa as it suffered a 5-1 home loss to Calgary on Wednesday. Casey Nelson scored his second career goal with 18 seconds remaining in the third period to help the Sabres avoid being shut out for the sixth time this season. Scott Wilson notched an assist, giving him 11 points in 34 games with Buffalo after being kept off the scoresheet over 20 contests with Pittsburgh and Detroit earlier this campaign.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, MSG (Buffalo), TSN5, RDS2 (Ottawa)
ABOUT THE SABRES (21-35-11): Danny O'Regan, who was acquired from San Jose in the deadline-day deal for Evander Kane, was recalled from Rochester of the American Hockey League on Wednesday but was not in the lineup against the Flames. The 24-year-old German-born center, who notched four assists in 19 games with the Sharks this season, was a linemate of Jack Eichel and Evan Rodrigues at Boston University. Kyle Criscuolo, who was recalled on Sunday to fill in for the injured Rodrigues, will miss four-to-six weeks after suffering an upper-body injury in Monday's win over Toronto.
ABOUT THE SENATORS (23-32-10): Mark Stone set up a tally on Monday, giving him two goals and 12 assists during his nine-game point streak. The 25-year-old right wing, who has registered five two-point efforts on the run, leads the team with 61 points - three shy of the career high he set in 2014-15. Marian Gaborik returned to the lineup Monday after missing two games with an undisclosed injury but saw his point drought reach seven contests after registering a goal and an assist in his team debut on Feb. 15 against Buffalo.
OVERTIME
1. Senators RW Bobby Ryan has recorded five points over his last three games and is one away from 500 for his career.
2. Buffalo RW Jason Pominville has collected seven points in as many contests following a 17-game drought.
3. Ottawa LW Tom Pyatt missed Monday's contest with flu-like symptoms and is day-to-day.