Game-Preview #32: Buffalo Sabres @ Ottawa Senators

Sens to play their first home game in over a month, look to win 3rd straight

Following a perfect Western road trip, the Ottawa Senators have the chance to make it 3 in a row, tonight at the Canadian Tire Centre, as they take on a struggling Buffalo Sabres team that only has 1 win in their last 9 games.

Mobility on Defence is Key

The insertion of both Jacob Bernard-Docker and Erik Brannstrom into the lineup over the last few games has created a new identity for the team, and that mindset seemed to work at the end of last season too. Some of the Senators veterans on defence were sinking all of the team’s chances with their poor all-around play, now with some lineup alterations due to injuries, Covid-19, and waivers, the team is starting to thrive.

The injury to Nikita Zaitsev allowed Bernard-Docker the opportunity to assert himself into the lineup, and he has grabbed the opportunity for top-line minutes alongside Thomas Chabot, and the 21-year-old has proven to be a much better option than Zaitsev.

The bottom-pair rotation between Michael Del Zotto and Victor Mete was a troubling progression for the Senators, neither offered much in terms of dynamism on the offensive end, while Brannstrom offers a perfect complement to Chabot. The hope is that D.J. Smith can bring himself to playing a more skilled d-core, rather than veteran-heavy, which has proven ineffective time and time again.

Team Leaders

Goals: OTT – Norris (16), BUF – Skinner (14)

Assists: OTT – Batherson (20), BUF – Dahlin (17)

Points: OTT – Batherson (30), BUF – Thompson (24)

+/-: OTT – Zub (+7), BUF – Pysyk (+2)

Shots: OTT – Tkachuk (87), BUF – Thompson (111)

Hits: OTT – Tkachuk (105), BUF – Hayden (59)

Starting Goalies

Anton Forsberg

2021-22 Season Stats: 13 GP, 6-5-1, 0.908 SV%, 3.16 GAA, 1 SO

Matt Murray was expected to start for the 3rd consecutive game tonight, but it was recently reported that the goaltender came down with a non-covid illness.

Forsberg will take the net for the first time in exactly a month, his last start was in a 4-3 overtime loss to the Philadelphia Flyers on December 18th, the veteran goaltender stopped 34/38 shots.

Michael Houser – BUF

2021-22 Season Stats: N/A

Houser 29, makes his first start of the season with Buffalo, last season the long-time AHL/ECHL netminder appeared in 4 games with the Sabres, winning 2 games, while posting a 0.901 SV% and a 3.46 GAA.

So far this season Houser has played in 11 games with the Rochester Americans (AHL), carrying a 0.900 SV% and a 2.98 GAA and has also spent some time with the Cincinnati Cyclones (ECHL). The Sabres are missing their top-4 goaltenders due to injury/Covid-19, nevertheless, Houser will likely be up to the task.

All stats from Hockey Reference & HockeyDB.