Sens look to continue spoiler role vs. Sabres
Posted March 13, 2011 12:05 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The Buffalo Sabres are trying to create some breathing room in the tight Eastern Conference playoff race, and a meeting with the last-place Ottawa Senators to open a four-game homestand may not be ideal.
The Sabres look to extend their winning streak in this series to four while the upset-minded Senators go for their longest run as the visitor in over a year Sunday.
Watch the game live tonight on Sportsnet East at 5 p.m. ET.
Buffalo (33-27-7) holds the eighth and final playoff position in the East, two points ahead of Carolina and four in front of Toronto and Atlanta.
The Sabres, two points behind the seventh-place New York Rangers, are on a 6-2-2 surge that includes a 4-2 win over Ottawa at HSBC Arena on Feb. 25, improving to 4-1-0 in the season series.
Their momentum, though, slowed with a 4-3 road defeat to the Maple Leafs on Saturday, failing to capitalize on a 42-29 shot advantage. Buffalo also gave up the go-ahead goal to Phil Kessel midway through the third period when the shot banked into the net off defenseman Steve Montador.
“They got lucky,” coach Lindy Ruff said.” (The) puck went off the skate, sometimes you’ve got to live with that. Sometimes you gotta get some bounces.”
Fantasy notes: Erik Karlsson has picked up five points in his past five tilts now and has 0-5-5 in 9 GP vs. BUF. Blueliner Andrej Sekera has picked up 11 points in his past eight games. | Follow Chris Nichols on Twitter
Buffalo plays six of its next seven at home, including a meeting with Carolina on Tuesday. However, the Sabres are 14-15-3 as host, but 2-0-1 in the last three.
They’re 2-8-1 in the past 11 home meetings with Ottawa.
Ryan Miller is 1-4-1 with a 2.67 goals-against average over the six most recent matchups in the series there, but he made 29 saves Feb. 25. He stopped 25 of 29 shots Saturday, the most goals he’s allowed in 12 games.
Andrej Sekera has been a surprising contributor offensively, collecting 11 points in eight games. That production matches the defenseman’s total from the first 56 games.
The Senators, last in the conference, are enjoying the role of spoiler with five victories against teams in the playoff race while winning seven of 10 overall. Ottawa pulled off another upset Friday, beating Tampa Bay 2-1 on the road behind 34 saves from Curtis McElhinney in his team debut.
The Senators are trying to sweep a four-game road trip. They’ve won a season high-tying four in a row as the visitor since the loss at Buffalo last month.
Extending that streak Sunday would give Ottawa its longest road streak since a six-game run from Jan. 14-Feb. 3, 2010.
Part of the Sens’ recent away winning streak is due to scoring first in each contest.
“We’re giving the goaltenders that lead to play with,” coach Cory Clouston said. “It’s much easier to play the game when you’ve got the lead.”
Craig Anderson may be back in net after being rested Friday. He’s 6-3-0 with a 1.44 goals-against average and a .956 save percentage since being obtained in a trade with Colorado on Feb. 18. He made 35 saves in the loss at Buffalo last month and has a 3.60 GAA in losing two of three at HSBC Arena.
McElhinney lost his only game versus the Sabres, stopping 37 shots in a 5-2 defeat with Anaheim at HSBC on Dec. 21.
Jason Spezza had a goal against the Lightning, ending a six-game drought dating to the last meeting with the Sabres. The center has nine tallies during a six-game goals streak at Buffalo. He’s totaled 14 goals and 20 assists in 21 career visits.
