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Sabres look to end franchise-record losing streak

Jan 18, 2008 - 2:21 PM Atlanta (23-22-3) at Buffalo (19-19-6) 7:30 pm EST

BUFFALO, New York (Ticker) -- The Buffalo Sabres hope to end a franchise-record losing streak Friday when they host the Atlanta Thrashers.

The Sabres have lost 10 straight games since completing a season-long six-game winning streak with a 6-5 shootout victory over the Philadelphia Flyers on December 22.

The current slide surpasses Buffalo's previous low set in 2002, when they went 0-9-1 with two ties between the end of October and late November.

Although Buffalo hasn't been able to break into the win column, it has been competitive, losing five games in shootouts during the slide while suffering just one setback by three goals or more.

The Sabres nearly broke out of their funk during their last game on Tuesday.

But, after Jason Pominville tied the score early in the second period, Buffalo was held scoreless for the final 37 minutes of the contest as the New York Rangers held on for a 2-1 victory.

Pominville has been terrific in the face of adversity, notching five points in his last six games and leading the Sabres with 11 goals and 36 points this season.

The Thrashers, who claimed a 5-2 victory over the Sabres the last time the teams met on January 6, are coming off a loss of their own.

Atlanta suffered just its third loss in 13 overtime games this season on Thursday, falling, 3-2, in a shootout to the Montreal Canadiens.