Recap: Sabres vs Senators

How to watch: TSN5

How to listen: TSN 1200 / Unique FM 94,5

When: 6 p.m. EST

Where: Canadian Tire Centre

For the last time in 2023, the Senators are set to hit the ice at Canadian Tire Centre, tonight hosting the visiting Buffalo Sabres for the second and final time this season. Get your tickets here!

The last time these two saw each other back on Oct. 27, it was Buffalo that walked away with the victory. Looking to bounce back after their last game against New Jersey, the Senators look to end the year with a win here tonight.

The Senators enter this tilt having shown signs of improvement in the two games prior to New Jersey against Pittsburgh and Toronto. Beyond simply winning the game, the Sens showed a notable improvement in composure and calmness when holding the lead against Toronto, and in their offensive pressure in both games.

Following the New Jersey game sustaining offensive pressure and neutral zone play were points of emphasis that interim head coach Jacques Martin focused on during yesterday's film review and practice drills. Look for the Sens to get back to that tonight against Buffalo.

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The Sabres come into Canadian Tire Centre on the second night of a back-to-back fresh off beating Columbus in overtime. The win puts Buffalo at 0.500% for points in their last ten, having gone 4-4-2 and sitting eight points ahead of the Senators in the standings (though the Sens have six games in hand).

Last season it was Tage Thompson who had a break out season for the Sabres tallying 94 points in 78 games, this season it's Casey Mittelstadt who is in the midst of a career season. The 2017 first-round pick has 10 goals and 21 assists for a team leading 31 points in 37 games on pace for 22 goals, 47 assists and 69 points, all career bests.

Beyond Mittelstadt the Sens will have their hands full slowing down Jeff Skinner the team leader in goals (15) and provider of last night's overtime winner and J.J. Peterka with 12 goals of his own, as well as stellar young defenceman Rasmus Dahlin who sits in second on the team with 29 points.

By the numbers

The Senators will not hold a morning skate ahead of the game tonight, instead opting to an off-ice work out. Below is how the team lined up last game against the New Jersey Devils:

Hear from interim head coach Jacques Martin, defenceman Thomas Chabot and forward Brady Tkachuk ahead of tonight's game against the Buffalo Sabres at Canadian Tire Centre.

Anton Forsberg gets the start between the pipes tonight.

We are live from Canadian Tire Centre!

Penalty: Kyle Okposo is called for tripping Josh Norris at the 5:53 mark of the period and the Sens get the first try on the power play.

Goal: Jakob Chychrun sneaks back door and receives the cross-ice feed from Claude Giroux to put the Sens on top 1-0 at the 6:51 mark.

Goal: Zack MacEwen blasts one home in transition for his first goal of the season at the 12:38 mark to double the Sens lead 2-0.

Goal: Tage Thompson pots a wrist shot at the 19:46 mark to bring this one back within one. 2-1 Sens.

Goal: After Ridly Greig puts on a flurry of moves carrying the puck into the offensive zone he finds Dominik Kubalik who flips a backhand shot over Devon Levi to give the Senators a 3-1 lead at the 7:18 mark of the second.

Penalty: Thomas Chabot is called for holding JJ Peterka at the 10:52 mark.

Senators penalty kill stands tall.

Penalty: Drake Batherson is called for holding with 3:19 left to play in the second.

Senators kill off their second penalty of the game.

Goal: Mark Kastelic deflects the pass from Erik Brannstrom past Levi with 16 seconds left in the period to make it 4-1 Sens.

Penalty: After a mix up in front of the net, Brady Tkachuk and Rasmus Dahlin exchange blows behind the net and are each called for roughing at the 7:32 mark. Four-on-four hockey for the next two minutes

Penalty: Brady Tkachuk is called for roughing against Zemgus Girgensons at the 9:39 mark, Sabres on the power play for the next two minutes.

Penalty: Kyle Okposo and Mark Kastelic are each called for roughing at the 13:19 mark. Buffalo empties their net and it will be four-on-five.

Goal: Artem Zub finds the back of the empty net from centre ice to make it 5-1 with 4:44 to play.