Game 10 preview: Buffalo Sabres @ Ottawa Senators
A preview of the game between the Ottawa Senators and Buffalo Sabres on 5 February 2013.
Sorry for being late with the preview. Here is a brief stats-less version.
The Senators will look to snap a two game losing streak when they host the Buffalo Sabres tonight. Sergei Gonchar is expected to play but will be a game time decision. Mark Borowiecki will be the healthy scratch if Gonchar is good to go. The Sabres will start Jhonas Enroth and will be missing Christian Ehrhoff due to injury.
Here are the Sens lines from Ian Mendes:
Zibanejad - Turris - Alfredsson
Michalek - Smith - Silfverberg
Condra - Da Costa - O'Brien
Greening - Regin - Neil
Méthot - Karlsson
Gonchar - Wiercioch
Phillips - Benoît
Anderson (starter)
Bishop
Here are some points for tonight:
- Stopping Thomas Vanek: As one legendary (former?) Sabres announcer might say: Vanek is good, scary good! He is currently averaging two points per game. That's kind of good.
- Take advantage of the Buffalo defence: Buffalo allows 34 shots a game, second worst in the NHL. Plus they will be missing Ehrhoff tonight, and their goalies have a combined save percentage under 90. Enroth has allowed 7 goals on 48 shots this season.
- Da Costa's debut: Everyone is excited for this. Maybe a bit too excited? Expecting an AHL player to slide in and solve our scoring woes in game one is a bit much. It certainly would be nice though wouldn't it?
- Line juggling: A lot of different combinations among the forwards for tonight. Trustache though right?
- Managing Karlsson's ice time: Erik Karlsson's ice time reached over 32 minutes in Montreal. Hopefully with the expected return of Gonchar, we can see it reduce to around the 27 minute mark.