Senators at Sabres
THE STORY: The Buffalo Sabres haven’t exactly looked dominant, but they have found ways to win three straight games. The Sabres earned a one-goal regulation win, a shootout victory and edged Winnipeg 6-5 in overtime their last game Tuesday. Buffalo will try to extend their mini-streak when the struggling Ottawa Senators visit Friday. Derek Roy has stepped it up for the Sabres with three goals in the last two games, but they are still waiting for big-ticket, free-agent signing Ville Leino to contribute. Leino has one point in eight games and no goals in 13. Ottawa has dropped four straight, including a shootout loss to Buffalo last Saturday. The Sabres have beaten Ottawa five straight.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, SNET-E, TVA (Ottawa); MSG-B (Buffalo).
ABOUT THE SENATORS (7-8-1): Jason Spezza still leads Ottawa in scoring with 16 points, but has just one point in the last five games. Milan Michalek has 10 goals, and has scored in each of his last two games. Captain Daniel Alfredsson, out with a concussion since Oct. 29, has skated with the team for two days and is expected to return Friday. The Senators are still among the league’s leaders on the power play at 24.5 percent, but are 0-for-11 in four November games. Goalie Craig Anderson has started nine of the last 10 games.
ABOUT THE SABRES (9-5-0): Ryan Miller avoided the first five-game losing streak in his career, but gave up two goals on the first three shots and three more Tuesday. Backup Jhonas Enroth won the other two in the streak and is 4-0 on the season with a .951 save percentage. Thomas Vanek has five power-play goals, sharing the league lead through Wednesday. Vanek and linemate Jason Pominville top the team with 18 points each. Roy has five points in the last three games.
OVERTIME:
1. Buffalo’s four power-play goals Tuesday was the most in a game since Oct. 29, 2005 against the Islanders.
2. Ottawa had the most goals for (24) and against (21) in the third period through Wednesday.
3. The Sabres are at 92 percent on the penalty kill, second in the league.