Everything is fine. If anyone tells you that everything is bad then that’s false because in fact nothing is bad and everything is A-okay. The Ottawa Senators will make the playoffs, Linus Ullmark will make all the necessary saves, and no one will beat me up or steal my lunch money. I don’t know who came up with these ideas that the Sens are in trouble or that they can’t buy a save at the most crucial juncture of the season. I categorically deny these allegations, your honour. Yes, Ullmark allowed five goals in the first period of a game against a division rival (badly beset by injuries) and the Sens failed to convert on a single powerplay with five opportunities against a non-playoff team but I think they were just telling one of those funny jokes of theirs.
Meanwhile, the Buffalo Sabres may or may not have locked up a playoff spot weeks ago for all intents and purposes thanks in large part to some admirable goaltending and defensive depth, taking advantage of the opportunity created by the decline of the Panthers and Leafs. Whatever, Ottawa didn’t want to take that glory away from Buffalo anyway. Buffalo, as some may or may not have already pointed out, leads the season series 2-0 and have won 27 consecutive games against Ottawa dating back to the 19th century (if memory serves me correctly). The Sabres have just two regulation losses in their last ten games (is that good?). Look, no one will make a big deal out of it if the Sabres end a comically long playoff drought against a wounded rival in embarrassing fashion in the latter’s home arena, right?
Game Notes:Buffalo has really good goaltending, like top-ten in the league good. Ottawa’s goaltending definitely ranks near the top of the league (in terms of how much people talk about it, not in terms of how good it has been).In terms of five-on-five offence, the Senators (2.78 xGF/60) and Sabres (2.74) stack up pretty closely. Goaltending and injuries notwithstanding, Ottawa (2.33 xGA/60) would have the advantage on defence over Buffalo (2.74). Alas, the Senators still, in fact, have five defenders on the injured list.If the Senators did have a healthy Jake Sanderson or Thomas Chabot then it would please me to inform you that the Senators (8.48 xGF/60) should have an advantage on the powerplay over the Sabres (7.66) but please God, Josh Norris, don’t score from that spot on the powerplay tonight. Or do, it would be funny for old time’s sake.These two teams have polar opposite penalty kills in that Ottawa suppresses chances (7.40 xGA/60) but can’t buy a save while Buffalo (9.06) more than compensates for their mediocre defence with elite goaltending. Neat!All stats courtesy of naturalstattrick
Ottawa Injuries: Thomas Chabot, Dennis Gilbert, Nick Jensen, Jake Sanderson, Carter Yakemchuk
Buffalo Injuries: Sam Carrick, Justin Danforth, Jiri Kulich, Noah Ostlund
Where to watch/listen: RDS2, TSN5, TSN1200 @ 7PM EST
Lines from Last Game:
Ottawa
Giroux – Stützle – Batherson
Tkachuk – Cozens – Greig
Cousins – Pinto – Amadio
Foegele – Eller – Zetterlund
Kleven – Zub
Spence – Yakemchuk
Matinpalo – Thomson
Buffalo
Krebs – Thompson – Tuch
Zucker – McLeod – Quinn
Benson – Norris – Doan
Malenstyn – Carrick – Greenway
Dahlin – Samuelsson
Byram – Power
Metsa – Stanley