Senators and Sabres Set to Clash at Canadian Tire Centre

As the Ottawa Senators prepare to host the Buffalo Sabres at the Canadian Tire Centre, fans are eager to see if their team can maintain its recent momentum. The Senators have shown a mixed bag of results in their last few outings, with a thrilling overtime win against the Pittsburgh Penguins, showcasing resilience and offensive prowess by netting five goals. However, this was followed by a tough loss where they were outscored 6-2 by the New Jersey Devils.

Despite this setback, there are positive trends for Ottawa. Their aggressive play has been evident with an increase in hits from 12 against Pittsburgh to 27 versus New Jersey. Although they faced defeat in their latest game, it's worth noting that their shooting percentage was not far off from their victorious effort against Pittsburgh (19 percent compared to 7 percent), indicating that scoring opportunities are being created.

The powerplay unit will be looking for improvement; failing to convert on four chances could be an area of focus during practice sessions leading up to the game against Buffalo. Additionally, faceoff performance has been inconsistent and could be crucial in establishing control of the game early on.

Defensively, goaltending remains solid with save percentages holding steady at or near perfection across recent matches. This reliability between the pipes gives Ottawa a fighting chance every night and will be vital as they face off against Buffalo.

Fans should expect an intense matchup as both teams vie for victory before ringing in the new year. The Senators will need to capitalize on home ice advantage and sharpen up special teams play if they want to end on a high note.

The action unfolds on December 31st at 23:00 UTC at Canadian Tire Centre. Fans can catch all the excitement live nationally via ESPN+ or locally through MSG-B channel 635-1.