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Sabres, Senators face off heated rematch after brawl

Feb 24, 2007 - 5:38 PM Buffalo (41-15-5) at Ottawa (35-22-4) 7:00 pm EST

OTTAWA (Ticker) -- The last time the Buffalo Sabres faced the Ottawa Senators, the rival clubs literally came to blows.

A strong possibility exists of hostilities carrying over when the Sabres visit the Senators on Saturday in the finale of a home-and-home series.

The Sabres improved to 6-0-1 in their last seven games after a wild 6-5 shootout win over the Senators on Thursday. Buffalo rookie Drew Stafford scored the only goal of the bonus session.

The contest featured a wild brawl early in the second period after Ottawa's Chris Neil delivered a vicious hit to Buffalo center Chris Drury's head. Drury bled profusely and did not return to the game.

On the next shift, several brawls occurred, resulting in the ejections of Buffalo enforcer Andrew Peters and goaltenders Martin Biron and Ray Emery. The two netminders squared off after an initial altercation already had commenced.

Buffalo coach Lindy Ruff and Ottawa coach Bryan Murray has a heated verbal exchange while the referees were assessing the penalty situation.

The Sabres, whose 87 points leads in the NHL, received two goals from Thomas Vanek. The left wing has 31 goals in 61 games this season and five in seven games against the Senators.