With just 13 games left in the regular season, the Ottawa Senators have put themselves in a fairly comfortable position in the Eastern Conference.
The Sens continue to hold down the seventh spot in the East, eight points clear of the 9th place Winnipeg Jets. More importantly, the Senators are just one point back of the 6th place New Jersey Devils. The Senators look to close that gap when they host the Buffalo Sabres tonight at Scotiabank Place.
The Sabres have been playing inspired hockey as of late and have battled their way back into the Eastern Conference playoff picture. Heading into tonight's tilt, Buffalo is just two points back of the 8th place Capitals. The Sabres will be a desperate hockey club tonight.
Meanwhile the Sens will be looking to build off an impressive win over the New York Rangers on Thursday night. The Sens got solid goaltending from Ben Bishop and quite possibly put together their best 60 minute effort of the season. Ottawa has won back to back games and seven of ten and continue to put pressure on the 6th place Devils.
New Jersey is in Long Island tonight.
Tonight marks the sixth and final meeting between the Sabres and Senators this season. Buffalo took the first two meetings but the Sens have claimed the last three, including a 3-2 win in Buffalo on New Year's Eve.
Ben Bishop, who has played well in his two starts, will make his third straight start in the Ottawa goal. Ryan Miller gets the nod for the Sabres. No line up changes are expected for Paul MacLean's group which means that Zenon Konopka, Matt Carkner and Bobby Butler will be the healthy scratches.
Here is how the Senators are expected to line up.
Greening-Spezza-Michalek
Klinkhammer-Turris-Alfie
Daugavins-Smith-Condra
Foligno-O'Brien-Neil
Kuba-Karlsson
Cowen-Gonchar
Phillips-Gilroy
Puck drop is scheduled for just after 7:00 PM tonight with all the action available on CBC's Hockey Night in Canada. For those of you looking to stream the game, check out the HNIC website as they always have live streaming available on their site.
- Some more good news on the injury front this morning as apparently Craig Anderson was able to handle the puck a little bit for the first time since being sidelined with a cut to his right hand. Still no time frame for his return but it's clear Anderson is progressing down the road to recovery.
