The Buffalo Sabres return home with momentum from a solid run and have an eye on climbing further up the standings.
The Sabres have a golden chance to achieve both of those goals when they play host to the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday.
Buffalo is back home after a 3-2 win over the Los Angeles Kings completed a sweep of the three California teams and earned them seven of eight points during a four-game trip.
The Ottawa clash kicks off a four-game homestand.
“I think we’ve always had that confidence, but when you start winning games and collecting win streaks like that, you just want to keep it going,” said forward Zach Benson, who collected a pair of assists in the Los Angeles victory. “You’ve got a good vibe going around the room right now.”
Ottawa sits two points ahead of Buffalo heading into the divisional clash. However, the Sabres own two games in hand.
After a middling first 10 games, the Sabres – last season’s Atlantic Division regular-season champs – believe their game is coming around.
It also helps having one of the league’s hottest players in their stable. Forward Tage Thompson was named the first star of last week after netting eight points (five goals, three assists) in those three victories. He posted a hat trick in a 7-6 victory over the Anaheim Ducks and scored twice, including the game-winner, in Los Angeles.
“I felt my game (has been) good all season,” Thompson said. “Some games, they’re gonna go in for you and some games they’re not. I felt, for the most part, we’re generating some pretty good looks and playing some pretty solid hockey. Just got to continue to build off it.”
The Senators also made their way through California en route to Buffalo, but not with the same success. Ottawa arrives after blowing a three-goal lead en route to a 6-3 loss to the Anaheim Ducks on Sunday.
The Senators have only one win in four games heading into the final outing of a five-game road trip. They beat the San Jose Sharks 5-1, but started the trip with a loss in Las Vegas and an overtime defeat in Los Angeles.
“I liked a lot of our game,” coach Travis Green said of the Anaheim setback. “If you took the special teams out, I’d be really happy with the game.”
The Ducks scored six unanswered goals, with four power-play markers.
“We didn’t get it done and that’s what we’ve got to be better at the next game in Buffalo,” defenseman Thomas Chabot said.
Whether he plays remains to be seen, but goaltender Linus Ullmark participated in part of Tuesday’s practice. Ullmark has missed the past six games after suffering a lower-body strain in the Oct. 21 clash.
Green told media after the practice it was a step in the right direction for the goalie who had a stellar start to the season.
The Senators boast a 7-1-0 record with Ullmark playing, but their other goalies, Sam Ersson and Jonas Johansson, have combined for a 2-5-1 mark
Heading into the clash, forward Drake Batherson is riding an eight-game point streak in which he has collected six goals and seven assists.