Senators at Sabres
THE STORY: With seven points separating first place from last, the
Northeast Division is the NHL’s tightest. So, even though it is still
relatively early in the season, Tuesday’s game between the Ottawa
Senators and host Buffalo Sabres carries extra weight. There is also
added significance for the Senators, who have lost six straight to the
Sabres, including a 5-1 setback at Buffalo on Nov. 11 in the last
meeting. Ottawa is 1-3-2 in December and has fallen into the Northeast
basement; Buffalo is 2-3-1 in its last six, two points ahead of the
Senators. The Sabres have given their doctors and trainers plenty to do
lately with five players questionable to play Tuesday and three others
out of the lineup. Buffalo’s organizational depth, led by Zack Kassian,
has helped keep the Sabres afloat. Kassian has three goals and five
assists in his first eight NHL games.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, SNET-E, TVA (Ottawa), MSG Buffalo
ABOUT THE SENATORS (13-13-4):
Ottawa is last in the NHL in goals allowed at 3.43 per game. Craig
Anderson (12-10-2, 3.42, .895) has started eight of the last nine games.
He was pulled against Buffalo on Nov. 11 after allowing two goals in
the first 2:25. Jason Spezza leads the Senators with 28 points but is a
team-worst minus-10. Milan Michalek has a team-leading 18 goals,
including two in his last three games. Captain Daniel Alfredsson left
Saturday’s 4-1 loss to Vancouver with an arm injury, but is expected to
play Tuesday.
ABOUT THE SABRES (15-12-2): Kassian,
Buffalo’s first pick (13th overall) in the 2009 draft, has excelled
playing on a line mostly with Ville Leino and Tyler Adams. Leino, a free
agent acquisition this season who is making $6 million, has only 10
points, but four in his last four games. The Sabres have employed nine
rookies this season, second in the NHL only to the Flyers’ 10. With
defenseman Tyler Myers and Mike Weber out, Robyn Regehr has stepped up
to support top blue-liners Christian Ehrhoff and Jordan Leopold.
OVERTIME:
1. The Sabres have allowed the second-most shorthanded goals (five), including two in a 4-1 loss to the Rangers on Saturday.
2. The over is 15-5-1 in the last 21 meetings in Buffalo.