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(NHL) Buffalo vs. Ottawa,
Money Line: -150.00 Ottawa (Home)
Result: Loss
Money Line: -150.00 Ottawa (Home)
Result: Loss
The set-up: The 23-32-10 Ottawa Senators concluded their 2-2-0 road trip with a 3-2 overtime win at Dallas on Monday. Captain Erik Karlsson recorded his third multi-point performance in four games, setting up a goal before scoring the winner 2:41 into the extra session, as the Senators tied Montreal for the fewest road wins in the conference (nine). The Senators will welcome the 21-35-11 Buffalo Sabres to town, who come off a 5-1 home loss to Calgary on Wednesday. Buffalo's 53 points leaves therm in the Eastern Conference 'basement,' three points shy of the Senators' total of 56.
Buffalo: Danny O'Regan, who was acquired from San Jose in the deadline-day deal for Evander Kane, was recalled from Rochester of the American Hockey League on Wednesday but was not in the lineup against the Flames. The 24-year-old German-born center, who notched four assists in 19 games with the Sharks this season, was a linemate of Jack Eichel (Buffalo's top scorer with 22 goals and 53 points) and Evan Rodrigues (just 16 points on 35 games) at Boston University. Kyle Criscuolo, who was recalled on Sunday to fill in for the injured Rodrigues, who will miss four-to-six weeks after suffering an upper-body injury in Monday's win over Toronto. Will O'Regan make much of a difference? Casey Nelson scored his second career goal with 18 seconds remaining in the third period to help the Sabres avoid being shut out for the sixth time this season last night. Scott Wilson notched an assist, giving him 11 points in 34 games with Buffalo after being kept off the scoresheet over 20 contests with Pittsburgh and Detroit earlier this campaign.
Ottawa: Mark Stone set up a goal on Monday, giving him two goals and 12 assists during his nine-game point streak. The 25-year-old right wing leads the team with 61 points, three shy of the career high he set in 2014-15. Marian Gaborik returned to the lineup Monday after missing two games with an undisclosed injury but saw his point drought reach seven contests after registering a goal and an assist in his team debut on Feb. 15 against Buffalo. RW Bobby Ryan (just 27 points in 45 games) has recorded five points over his last three games and is one away from 500 for his career.
The pick: The Sabres are tied with the Arizona Coyotes for the fewest points (53) in the NHL. Buffalo head coach Phil Housley said he wasn't happy with the way his team let the Flames get to the net on Wednesday night. The game was a letdown for the Sabres, who had won three of four games heading into their game against the Flames, including wins over the Boston Bruins, Tampa Bay Lightning and the Toronto Maple Leafs, all playoff teams in the Atlantic Division. Counting on the Sabres is a risky proposition and I'm not interested. The Senators are going nowhere this season but here's a chance for them to put some distance between themselves and the Eastern Conference basement. Remember, this team was in OT in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals last season, before falling to the Penguins. Make Ottawa an 8* play.
Buffalo: Danny O'Regan, who was acquired from San Jose in the deadline-day deal for Evander Kane, was recalled from Rochester of the American Hockey League on Wednesday but was not in the lineup against the Flames. The 24-year-old German-born center, who notched four assists in 19 games with the Sharks this season, was a linemate of Jack Eichel (Buffalo's top scorer with 22 goals and 53 points) and Evan Rodrigues (just 16 points on 35 games) at Boston University. Kyle Criscuolo, who was recalled on Sunday to fill in for the injured Rodrigues, who will miss four-to-six weeks after suffering an upper-body injury in Monday's win over Toronto. Will O'Regan make much of a difference? Casey Nelson scored his second career goal with 18 seconds remaining in the third period to help the Sabres avoid being shut out for the sixth time this season last night. Scott Wilson notched an assist, giving him 11 points in 34 games with Buffalo after being kept off the scoresheet over 20 contests with Pittsburgh and Detroit earlier this campaign.
Ottawa: Mark Stone set up a goal on Monday, giving him two goals and 12 assists during his nine-game point streak. The 25-year-old right wing leads the team with 61 points, three shy of the career high he set in 2014-15. Marian Gaborik returned to the lineup Monday after missing two games with an undisclosed injury but saw his point drought reach seven contests after registering a goal and an assist in his team debut on Feb. 15 against Buffalo. RW Bobby Ryan (just 27 points in 45 games) has recorded five points over his last three games and is one away from 500 for his career.
The pick: The Sabres are tied with the Arizona Coyotes for the fewest points (53) in the NHL. Buffalo head coach Phil Housley said he wasn't happy with the way his team let the Flames get to the net on Wednesday night. The game was a letdown for the Sabres, who had won three of four games heading into their game against the Flames, including wins over the Boston Bruins, Tampa Bay Lightning and the Toronto Maple Leafs, all playoff teams in the Atlantic Division. Counting on the Sabres is a risky proposition and I'm not interested. The Senators are going nowhere this season but here's a chance for them to put some distance between themselves and the Eastern Conference basement. Remember, this team was in OT in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals last season, before falling to the Penguins. Make Ottawa an 8* play.
