Game Preview: Senators vs Sabres

The Ottawa Senators next match up will be against a division rival, the Buffalo Sabres on December 23rd, 2019.

This is the second time this season these two teams will play each other. Last time they played the Sabres sank the Senators by a score of 4-2 courtesy of a four-goal game by Sabres captain Jack Eichel.

Ottawa is 15-18-4 on the year, coming off a loss on home ice against the Flyers on Saturday night.

Buffalo is third in the wild card while being tied with the Panthers for third in the division. They boast a record of 17-13-7, but they need a win against a bottom feeder team like the Senators in their hopes of making the postseason for the first time in nine years.

Jack Eichel’s 18 game point streak has come to an end, fittingly right before the game against which the streak began.

The Senators power play has been terrible this season, but were seeing a slight uptick in the past two games. They are 3-for-8 with the man advantage in those two contests.

Overall their power play still sits at dead last in the league with a 11.8% efficiency rate. However their penalty kill has been a real bright spot this year clocking in at 82%, for a respectable 11th in the league.

The Sabres power play is middle of the pack at 19.2%, while their PK is a real problem at only 74.3%, at 29th.

Ottawa Senators game story: Can Anthony Duclair keep up the amazing play of late?

Anthony Duclair has been electric this whole season but especially in December, where is has eleven goals and four assists in only ten games. Let’s see if he can keep up the pace down the stretch.

Buffalo Sabres game story: Can Jack Eichel stay hot?

Jack Eichel was averaging almost two points per game in that insane streak of his, but now that that streak is over can he keep it fresh?

The game starts at 7:30 Eastern Time at the Canadian Tire Centre.