Final
Sabres-Senators Preview
Apr 10, 2010 - 5:21 PM By ANTHONY GIORNALISTA STATS Senior WriterBuffalo (44-26-10) at Ottawa (44-31-6), 7:00 p.m. EDT
Some Buffalo Sabres are getting some time off prior to the postseason. They can rest assured that their first-round opponent won't be the Ottawa Senators.
The Sabres will likely sit some of their top players again as they try to snap a nine-game losing streak against the Senators, who are playing their season finale Saturday night just hours after announcing Alex Kovalev will miss the playoffs.
With the Northeast Division title wrapped up, Buffalo (44-26-10) gave its banged-up players a break in a 3-1 loss to Boston on Thursday night.
The Sabres are one point behind New Jersey for second place in the Eastern Conference, but they have decided the extra rest for the players might be worth more than trying to secure a higher seed.
"It's tough. You're playing with different guys every night, guys are switching during games," center Derek Roy said. "We've got to get healthy for the playoffs. We need everybody. We need this whole team."
Patrick Lalime played with the flu so No. 1 goalie Ryan Miller could rest. The Sabres were also without leading scorer Tim Connolly (foot), No. 4 scorer Thomas Vanek (unspecified injury) and defenseman Craig Rivet (flu).
Ottawa (44-31-6) was short-handed in its last matchup with Buffalo, but that didn't stop it from extending its run in the series with a 4-2 victory March 26. The Senators were without Kovalev and Milan Michalek due to injuries as they improved to 25-6-4 against the Sabres since the start of 2005-06.
Kovalev, fourth on the team with 49 points, suffered a torn ACL in his left knee during a 4-3 shootout loss to Tampa Bay on Thursday.
Ottawa, which will finish in fifth place in the East, will face Pittsburgh or New Jersey in the first round. Buffalo's playoff opponent remains uncertain.
A secured playoff spot has given Ottawa an opportunity to rest its players.
The Senators, though, continue to play hard, going 7-1-1 in their last nine. Ottawa trailed 3-0 before losing Thursday night.
"It was nice to see us battle back in a game that doesn't mean anything for us," captain Daniel Alfredsson said. "We showed some character."
The Senators were able to give defenseman Jared Cowen, their 2009 first-round pick, his league debut. With Anton Volchenkov getting the night off, the 19-year-old Cowen saw nearly 7 minutes of ice time.
Defenseman Tyler Myers continues to play a crucial role in the Sabres' success. Myers, the 12th overall pick in 2008, appears to be the front-runner for the Calder Trophy given to the NHL rookie of the year.
"It's hard not to hear those whispers about the Calder and what not," Myers said. "You take it all in, but at the end of the day, you just have to focus on what you have to do here with the team. And I think I've done that for the most part."
Myers has 47 points (11 goals, 36 assists) to lead all Sabres defensemen and ranks fifth on the team overall. Myers, though, has been held without a point in five games against the Senators.
- -------------------------------------------
Buffalo
2 2 1 --5
Ottawa 0 1 1 --2
-------------------------------------------
FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Buffalo, Thomas Vanek 24 (Adam Mair, Matt
Ellis), 09:14. 2, Buffalo, Thomas Vanek 25 (Derek Roy, Andrej Sekera),
12:38. Penalties: C Neil, Ott (hooking), 1:32; R Torres, Buf
(interference), 2:35; J Pominville, Buf
Apr 10 9:53 PM - -------------------------------------------
Buffalo
2 2 1 --5
Ottawa 0 1 1 --2
-------------------------------------------
FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Buffalo, Thomas Vanek 24 (Adam Mair, Matt
Ellis), 09:14. 2, Buffalo, Thomas Vanek 25 (Derek Roy, Andrej Sekera),
12:38. Penalties: C Neil, Ott (hooking), 1:32; R Torres, Buf
(interference), 2:35; J Pominville, Buf
Apr 10 9:53 PM - --------------------------------------
Buffalo
2 2 --4
Ottawa 0 1 --1
--------------------------------------
FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Buffalo, Thomas Vanek 24 (Adam Mair, Matt
Ellis), 09:14. 2, Buffalo, Thomas Vanek 25 (Derek Roy, Andrej Sekera),
12:38. Penalties: C Neil, Ott (hooking), 1:32; R Torres, Buf
(interference), 2:35; J Pominville, Buf (tripping), 14:05;
Apr 10 8:59 PM - ---------------------------------
Buffalo
2 --2
Ottawa 0 --0
---------------------------------
FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Buffalo, Thomas Vanek 24 (Adam Mair, Matt
Ellis), 09:14. 2, Buffalo, Thomas Vanek 25 (Derek Roy, Andrej Sekera),
12:38. Penalties: C Neil, Ott (hooking), 1:32; R Torres, Buf
(interference), 2:35; J Pominville, Buf (tripping), 14:05; P Regin,
Ott (stick
Apr 10 8:03 PM
Related News
- Game 75 Hub: Ottawa Senators vs Philadelphia Flyers Mar 30
- Silver Seven is on the Move...Sort Of! Mar 30
- Thursday Links, News and Notes: Chabot Injury, Alternative Arena Locations Discussed, Toews (Maybe) Saying Goodbye and More Mar 30
- BSens Drop to the Basement Mar 29
- Rousek’s Debut Lives Up to Expectations Mar 28
- Prospect Update - March 28th Mar 28
- Sabres Fall Short in Shootout Mar 28
- Sens tame Panthers 5-2 Mar 27
- DBTB Open Thread - Week of 3/27 | Still Alive? Mar 27
- Game Preview: Sabres vs. Canadiens | Game 73 Mar 27
- Sabres Finish Season Series Against Montreal Mar 27
- Game 74 Hub: Panthers @ Sens Mar 27