(SportsNetwork.com) – The fading Ottawa Senators will try to avoid a fourth
loss in a row on Tuesday night as they visit the Buffalo Sabres and First
Niagara Center.
The Senators saw their losing streak extended with a 4-1 loss to the Columbus
Blue Jackets. All five goals were scored in the third period, with Erik Condra
tallying to make it a one-goal deficit for Ottawa before the Blue Jackets
pulled away late.
Robin Lehner, in his fifth straight start with Craig Anderson out with a hand
injury, made 32 saves as the Senators fell to 4-8-2 over their past 14 games.
That has them 14 points out of a wild card spot.
Ottawa has been held to a single goal in each game of its three-game slide.
“We’re trying to work for these points,” said Condra. “It just feels like
we’re not getting the bounces we need right now.”
Lehner will start again tonight and is 0-1-2 lifetime versus the Sabres with a
2.88 goals against average and .909 save percentage in three meetings.
Buffalo, last in the NHL with 35 points, was looking to win consecutive games
on Sunday for the first time since a four-game run from Dec. 9-15, but
followed up a victory over the Dallas Stars with a 3-2 setback to the New York
Islanders.
Marcus Foligno, who returned after missing 19 games with a broken hand, and
Drew Stafford had the goals, while Michal Neuvirth yielded three goals on 31
shots.
Buffalo, in losing for the 16th time in 18 games, matched a club record-low
with just 10 shots in the game.
“Ten shots in a game just isn’t going to cut it,” said Buffalo forward Brian
Gionta. “You don’t give yourself a chance to get back in the game.”
Jhonas Enroth, who has been in net for both wins over this 18-game stretch,
figures to start tonight for Buffalo and has gone 4-3-1 in eight previous
meetings with the Senators, posting a 2.94 GAA and .913 save percentage.
Though these two clubs have split the first two of four meetings this season,
the Senators have won 10 of the last 14 encounters overall.
