Sabres at Senators
THE STORY: A seven-game losing streak that bookended the All-Star break had the Ottawa Senators fighting to stay afloat in the Eastern Conference playoff race. A recent surge has upgraded the expectations for the Senators, who are firmly entrenched in seventh place and are only one point behind New Jersey. Ottawa will be seeking its third consecutive victory Saturday when it hosts the Buffalo Sabres, who have used their own hot streak to move to the cusp of playoff contention.
TV: CBC, RDS, MSG-Buffalo
ABOUT THE SABRES (31-29-8): After a 6-0-1 stretch, Buffalo's playoff push has been stalled by two losses in the last three games, leaving the Sabres two points behind Winnipeg and Washington for the eighth spot in the Eastern Conference. Captain Jason Pominville has scored in back-to-back games after going six contests without a point, but he's getting little help from his teammates. To compound the issue, Thomas Vanek suffered an upper-body injury in Thursday's loss to Boston and did not practice Friday.
ABOUT THE SENATORS (36-25-8): Offense has not been a problem for Ottawa, which pumped home 11 goals in its last two wins. All-Stars Jason Spezza and Milan Michalek have been brilliant during the 13-game stretch (9-3-1) that has vaulted the Senators up the standings. Spezza has nine goals and 13 assists and Michalek nine goals and nine assists in that span. Towering rookie goaltender Ben Bishop had 25 saves in Thursday's win over the New York Rangers in his second career start and first in Ottawa.
OVERTIME:
1. The Senators have won three straight meetings, including a 4-1 win on Dec. 20 that snapped Buffalo's five-game winning streak in Ottawa.
2. Sabres G Ryan Miller is 13-16-3 lifetime against the Senators.
3. Spezza has 22 goals and 62 points in 48 games vs. the Sabres.