(WGR 550) -- The numbers for the Sabres against Ottawa haven't been very good the past few years.
-- Ottawa has won 21 of 31 contests between the two squads since 2005-06, garnering points in 25 of those games.
-- In a dreadful 2008-09 campaign that saw them finish eight points behind a Sabres team that missed the playoffs, the Senators still went 4-1 against Buffalo.
-- The Senators are 12-3-1 against Buffalo inside Scotiabank Place in Kanata, where the two square off Wednesday evening.
There are reasons for this, of course. For one, the Sabres have been a poor team the past two seasons away from HSBC Arena, winning just 37 of 82 road games in the 2007-08 and 2008-09 campaigns. Combine that with the fact that Ottawa is a stunning 106-52-23 at home since 2005-06, and Kanata is a not a nice getaway.
Buffalo could have help in breaking that skid, which has already continued into this season with a 5-3 Patrick Lalime-backstopped loss in Ottawa on Nov. 21. The Senators will be missing noted-Sabre killer Jason Spezza for eight weeks, so he certainly won't be available Wednesday night.
Spezza has 47 points in 37 games against the Sabres, including 31 assists and four game-winning goals. Those 47 points are almost 11 percent of his total NHL output. Even when you consider that Spezza has faced the Sabres more than most teams by being a division rival -- he's played nine percent of his games against Buffalo -- that's scary.
But perhaps the tides will turn, as Dany Heatley is gone as well (though the player the Senators received in exchange for him, Milan Michalek, scored in the Nov. 21 game. In that contest, Daniel Alfredsson scored his 34th and 35th career goals against the Sabres in his 72nd match with Buffalo.
Maybe Ryan Miller's hot season can be the antidote. Miller is 8-11-1 career in the regular season against the Senators, with a .905 save percentage and 3.07 goals against average. He is 5-5 in the postseason against Ottawa, with a .917 save percentage.
Sabres are due to win against the Senators. They are due to for a good game. Go Sabres!
12/16/2009 8:49AM
Puck Possession Dominance
Ottawa is another one of these teams (such as Boston, NJ, Pitt) that does not match up well against the Sabres top forwards. As bloggers have screamed at Darcy on web sites such as this - the inability or unwillingness of the Sabres top forwards to gain and hold possesion of the puck kills tha Sabres. Its starts with loosingthe draw and then not not being able to lnock them off the puck. Chances of winning today rest in sitting Connelly, Pommer, and Stafford much more than usual.
12/16/2009 8:51AM
Chalk Up This One
Loss to the Sens. Alfredsson 2 goals, 2 assists in a 6-2 Sens win. Miller pulled.
12/16/2009 8:52AM
WAAYYOVERDUE
No Heatley,No Spezza,No Niel,No Leclare......if they can't win in Ottawa tonight....I'll be pissed!!
12/16/2009 9:23AM
Due?
Due for a good dame? You do realize they are 8-2 in their last 10, don't you?
12/16/2009 9:50AM
Re:Chalk Up This One
NOT gonna happen....pipe dream.
12/16/2009 10:03AM
Mr Softee
He lets in awful goals against a sub-par Senators 3rd and 4th lines. Alfredsson scores on him because he's actually very good, but there's no excuse for Miller against the rest of his team -- oh wait, I forgot, Miller has "no chance" on any pucks that get by him.
12/16/2009 10:08AM
Miller should sit
we wouldnt' want Alfredson punking him again, he probly still has nightmares over sending his team to the golf course
12/16/2009 10:12AM
Role Reversal
This is quite the reversal. It's usually Buffalo with all the crippling injuries facing a healthy Ottawa team. It's about time the tide turned.
12/16/2009 10:18AM
HAHAHAHA MORON
"Loss to the Sens. Alfredsson 2 goals, 2 assists in a 6-2 Sens win. Miller pulled."
yea chalk it up man im so edgy and cool cuz im predicting a blow out against the sabres...even though miller hasnt let in 6 goals all year im just gonnapredict it anyway cuz im too cool for school. CHALK IT UP BRA IM A GROUND BREAKER.
haha probably still lives at home
12/16/2009 10:31AM
fans
i'm so sick of all these negative comments why do u even watch the games? take it somewhere else! start an "i hate sabres" website if you so desperately need to say something ridiculous.
12/16/2009 11:34AM
Re: Chalk Up This One
I hate the mentality that we are going to lose automatically every time we play these guys. I hope its just the fans and not the players that feel that way...Sabres 4 Sens 2
12/16/2009 11:52AM
IQ
Where's the IQ guy? Is he the Chalk Talk dude?
12/16/2009 12:28PM
Re: Mr Softee
Yes. Miller has no chance vs. the Sens. That goal horn will be blaring. Hope to hear that horn on the "whiner line" on the Howard Simon Show in the morning. The Sens own the Sabres. Does anybody know how to get an Alfredsson jersey for a softprice?
12/16/2009 12:40PM
sabres due for 5 straight win
tonight is the night where the sabres will beat the Sens since Jan of 09.
12/16/2009 12:49PM
Gee, Henry
Only four anti-Miller posts before Noon? You must be tired today. I understand, you're just killing time before the night shift at the Kaisertown 7-11.
12/16/2009 1:27PM
Re: Mr Softee
how come with when every other goalie lets in a goal commentators say "he looks shakey" or "he wants that one back" or "he needs to save that," but when miller lets one in you hear "he had no chance on that." do we have to baby him?
12/16/2009 1:34PM
Re:HAHAHAHA MORON
This just made me laugh. well played sir!
12/16/2009 1:52PM
Re: Mr. Softee
You're revising history. As recently as the 2nd goal against NJ, the commentators said, "and that's one Ryan Miller wants back." I could turn this around and say the know-nothings on those board start with their "Mister Softee" act even on blasts from the point that get perfectly deflected: "OMG, OMG did you see that softie Miller just gave up?!"
12/16/2009 3:23PM
This guy is right
The commentators did in fact say that, I just watched it on DVR. You Miller haters need to get your facts straight. Don't hate because he is having a great year!
12/16/2009 3:57PM
the gambler
even money in ottawa that says alot take buff and double up
12/16/2009 4:35PM
Miller
we have the number 1 goalie in the world again and your complaining. i dont get you "fans"
12/16/2009 9:54PM
Canada BL**S
honestly i hate all of their teams i S**K
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