GAME DAY: Ottawa Senators @ Buffalo Sabres - 7:30pm ET - Fri. Oct. 22nd, 2010

The Ottawa Senators (1-4-1, 3pts) close out their mini-road trip with a visit to the armpit of America... to face the Buffalo Sabres (2-4-1, 5pts). Both of these teams have had a brutal and underwhelming start to the season posting embarrassing records and causing fans everywhere to reach for the panic button. It's early in the season, but Sens fans are getting worried. Elliott's got the reins now with Leclaire out already (yes, already). Lehner is backing him up and itching for a chance to get a start... which he may get very soon if things continue as they have been. For now, it's Elliott's team and the D simply has to perform better in front of him. This team needs to come together and play as a team with desire and effort. We know they can do it, we just need to see it happen soon. Could David Hale be the answer to all our woes? Who knows... who knows...

I'm calling it here and now folks... these next two games, back to back, Sabres and Habs, will be the defining moment for the Sens this season. The team needs to show what they are made of in these next two games or face a very tough and steep uphill battle for the rest of the season. It all comes down to this.

Game Coverage:
- TV: SNET-E (HD), MSG-B (HD)
- Radio: Team 1200
- Web: Check: http://www.atdhe.net and http://www.justin.tv

Latest updates:
- Spezza a scratch to rest his sore groin, Lee draws back in
- Miller to start for the Sabres (thanks SensGirl)
- Elliott to get start against Sabres. Hale replaces Lee on defence (as per NHL_Sens twitter)
- Likely d-pairings: Phillips-Gonchar. Campoli-Carkner. Hale-Karlsson (as per Ian Mendes)
- Lines in BUF this morning: Michalek-Spezza-Alfredsson. Foligno-Fisher-Regin. Ruutu-Kelly-Neil. Shannon-Winchester-Kovalev (as per Ian Mendes)

TSN's Ice Chips:

Source: http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/icechips/

Ottawa Senators:

Possible lineup vs the Sabres:

Forwards:
Michalek - Spezza - Alfredsson
Foligno - Fisher - Regin
Shannon - Winchester - Kovalev
Ruutu - Kelly - Neil

Defensemen:
Phillips - Gonchar
Campoli - Carkner
Hale - Karlsson

Healthy scratch: Lee (?)

Goaltenders:
Brian Elliott
Robin Lehner

Injuries:
- Filip Kuba (broken leg, on IR and expected to miss at least a month)
- Pascal Leclaire (groin, expected to miss at least one week, case of "MadeOfGlassitis")

Buffalo Sabres:

Foward Jason Pominville accompanied the Sabres on their road trip and skated for the first time since suffering a concussion Oct. 11. - Buffalo News

Possible lineup vs the Sens:

Forwards:
Vanek - Roy - Stafford
Hecht - Connolly - McCormick
Ennis - Niedermayer - Grier
Gerbe - Gaustad - Kaleta

Defensemen:
Leopold - Myers
Butler - Montador
Sekera - Rivet

Goaltenders:
Ryan Miller
Patrick Lalime

Injuries:
- Jason Pominville (concussion, out indefinitely)
- Shaone Morrison (groin, questionable for Friday's game against Ottawa)

Game Day Previews:

OttawaSenators.com Game Day Preview:

Source: http://senators.nhl.com/club/preview.htm?id=2010020094

NHL.com Game Day Preview:

Source: http://www.nhl.com/ice/preview.htm?id=2010020094

Sportsnet.ca Game Day Preview:

Source: http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/scores/20101022/Ott@Buf/story

ESPN Game Day Preview:

Source: http://scores.espn.go.com/nhl/preview?gameId=301022002

ESPN Stats Comparison:



Media Links:
- Sens anxious to turn the tide in Buffalo: http://senators.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=541198
- Sens recall defencemen David Hale: http://senators.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=541167
- Sens assign Zach Smith to Bingo: http://senators.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=541077
- SensTV On-line: http://senators.nhl.tv/team/console.jsp
- Official Twitter of the Ottawa Senators: http://twitter.com/NHL_Sens

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GO SENS GO!!!

Posted on Twitter:

http://twitter.com/#!/GMHockey/status/28359440117

nice!!!!

Leafs lost tonight... the good luck charm is already working...

After the Buffalo game, the Sens do not leave Canada until Nov. 12th for a game in Boston the following night.

Sens are now last in the East... and the League.

shabbs wrote:Leafs lost tonight... the good luck charm is already working...

Praise Shabbs!


I can just see it, tomorrow TGOR will start the "Blue Team Elimination Watch".

Does this change everything? And if so, does Shabbs have to do...76 more of them?

SpezDispenser wrote:

Does this change everything? And if so, does Shabbs have to do...76 more of them?

if it works

shabbs wrote:Sens are now last in the East... and the League.

But they're still number 1 in our hearts!

SpezDispenser wrote:

Does this change everything? And if so, does Shabbs have to do...76 more of them?

75.

GAMEDAY! GAMEDAY! GAMEDAY! GAMEDAY! GAMEDAY! GAMEDAY! GAMEDAY! GAMEDAY! GAMEDAY! GAMEDAY! GAMEDAY! GAMEDAY! GAMEDAY! GAMEDAY! GAMEDAY! GAMEDAY! GAMEDAY! GAMEDAY! GAMEDAY! GAMEDAY! GAMEDAY! GAMEDAY! GAMEDAY! GAMEDAY! GAMEDAY! GAMEDAY! GAMEDAY! GAMEDAY! GAMEDAY! GAMEDAY! GAMEDAY! GAMEDAY! GAMEDAY! GAMEDAY! GAMEDAY! GAMEDAY! GAMEDAY! GAMEDAY! GAMEDAY! GAMEDAY! GAMEDAY! GAMEDAY! GAMEDAY! GAMEDAY! GAMEDAY! GAMEDAY! GAMEDAY! GAMEDAY! GAMEDAY! GAMEDAY! GAMEDAY! GAMEDAY! GAMEDAY! GAMEDAY! GAMEDAY! GAMEDAY! GAMEDAY! GAMEDAY! GAMEDAY! GAMEDAY! GAMEDAY! GAMEDAY! GAMEDAY! GAMEDAY! GAMEDAY! GAMEDAY! GAMEDAY! GAMEDAY! GAMEDAY!

GO SENS GO!!!!!

Updated with potential lineups for tonight. Wonder if Hale will start and Lee will sit? We'll see... I'll try and update any news during the day.

Why else bring him up if you're not going to sit someone. Money's on Lee.

shabbs wrote:Updated with potential lineups for tonight. Wonder if Hale will start and Lee will sit? We'll see... I'll try and update any news during the day.

Man, I look at those lines, and the door's wide open for a guy like Butler to step in with Fisher and Foligno (provided that you keep the Shannon-Regin-Kovalev line together).

Look for another forward to get called up from Bingo, and soon, especially if we don't start producing some goals. Odds are on Butler.