Tue Feb 12 11:58:23 2008

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Fortified Senators host Northeast rival Sabres

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(Sports Network) - The Ottawa Senators will aim for their third consecutive victory tonight, when they welcome the Buffalo Sabres for a Northeast Division battle at Scotiabank Place.

Ottawa, which is first in the Northeast and the Eastern Conference with 72 points, is coming off wins over Florida and division-rival Montreal. Tonight the Sens will try for their first three-game winning streak since notching four in a row from January 4-12.

The Sens' victory over the visiting Canadiens on Saturday was a big one, as Montreal had recently made up a great deal of ground in the Northeast race. The Habs came into the contest trailing Ottawa by three points, but the Senators answered with a 6-1 triumph over Montreal.

Jason Spezza scored his first career hat trick and tacked on three assists to lead the Senators to the blowout victory. Ray Emery made 33 saves for Ottawa.

Spezza's six points were a career high, and he headlined Ottawa's ultra- successful top line Saturday. Daniel Alfredsson, the Senators' captain, returned after missing the past four games with a hip injury and had two goals and three assists.

Dany Heatley, who returned Thursday after missing 11 games with a separated right shoulder, notched a goal and three assists. It was the trio's first time playing together since January 12.

Ottawa also added something for the stretch run on Monday, as they traded defenseman Joe Corvo and forward Patrick Eaves to Carolina in exchange for forward Cory Stillman and Mike Commodore.

Stillman had 21 goals and 46 points for Carolina and should help Ottawa add some scoring depth, while the 6-5, 230-pound Commodore is a physical presence on the blue line.

The Senators, who are 18-9-2 as the host this year, are completing a three- game homestand tonight.

Buffalo is coming off Sunday's home win over visiting Florida in a game that will always be remembered for a horrific injury to Panthers forward Richard Zednik. Zednik was rushed to the hospital after suffering a vicious cut to his neck from a teammate's skate.

Halfway through the third period, Florida's Olli Jokinen was chasing down the puck in the right corner of the Buffalo end. He was upended as he attempted to reach for the puck, and his right leg lifted into the air and the skate blade hit Zednik in the neck. Zednik was bleeding profusely as he skated to the Florida bench. Attendants jumped onto the ice and rushed him to the locker room.

Zednik then underwent life-saving surgery at Buffalo General Hospital, where doctors closed the laceration in his neck. The Czech winger is still at the hospital and listed in stable condition.

The Sabres did win the test by a 5-3 score, as Thomas Vanek scored the game- winning goal and added an assist.

Derek Roy had a pair of goals while Jason Pominville added a goal and an assist for the Sabres, who have won three of their last four games. Ryan Miller stopped 22 shots in the win.

Buffalo is 12-13-5 as the visiting club this year and has won four of its last five road tests.

Ottawa is 4-1 against the Sabres this year and has taken nine of the last 12 overall meetings between the teams. Buffalo has been defeated in five straight and nine of its 11 most recent trips to Scotiabank Place.