Sabres 0 - 2 Senators
Final
  for this game

Sliding Sens welcome Sabres

Feb 12, 2013 - 4:09 PM (Sports Network) - The Ottawa Senators try to avoid a third straight loss on Tuesday evening as they play host to the Northeast Division-rival Buffalo Sabres.

The Senators are coming off their second shutout setback of the season, a 1-0 decision against the visiting Winnipeg Jets on Saturday. Both teams went scoreless through the first two periods before the Jets notched the game's only goal 5:57 into the third period.

Ben Bishop made 36 saves, but couldn't stop Alexei Ponikarovsky's deflection following an Ottawa turnover.

"I didn't think we skated well at all," Senators coach Paul MacLean said. "Once we got behind I thought we played with a little bit more urgency and drive, but until that point we were flat."

That effort led to Ottawa's fourth loss in five games and the club wraps a four-game homestand on Tuesday.

Craig Anderson is likely to return to net for this game after Bishop made just his second start of the season. Anderson won five of his first six outings this season with a 0.99 goals against average and .967 save percentage, but has gone 1-2-1 on four starts this month with a 2.26 GAA.

The Sabres will also be looking to rebound on Tuesday after having a two-game win streak snapped with Sunday's 3-1 defeat at the hands of the visiting Boston Bruins.

Tyler Ennis had the goal for Buffalo, his fifth point in four games, and Ryan Miller made 36 saves.

However, forward Thomas Vanek was held without a point for just the second time this season and the Sabres came nowhere near to matching the 7-4 win they posted in Boston on Jan. 31.

"I think we started to show our fatigue around the midpoint," Miller said. "They're a tough team to play against and they certainly were going to make it so we weren't going to have the opportunity to score as many goals as we did last time."

Buffalo lost for the eighth time in 11 games and made defenseman Tyler Myers a healthy scratch for the second contest in a row.

The Senators bested the Sabres for the fourth time in the last five meetings with a 4-3 home win on Feb. 5. It was just Ottawa's second victory in its last eight at home versus Buffalo.

The Sens got goals from four different skaters in the win over the Sabres, while Anderson made 20 saves.

Ennis had a goal for the Sabres, while backup goaltender Jhonas Enroth was tagged for four goals on 24 shots.






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