Sabres vs. Senators | How to watch, lineup notes, and storylines

The Buffalo Sabres are back home at KeyBank Center to face the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.

Buffalo (7-4-3) enters with two fewer points than (and two games in hand on) its Atlantic Division rival.

Before their first of four matchups this regular season, the Sabres and Senators both made their once-a-season trips to California. The Sabres are riding high after a three-game sweep out there, while the Senators didn’t fare as well:

Buffalo trailed only once in California, falling behind 2-0 early in Anaheim, but it erased that deficit by the first intermission. It’s no coincidence that playing with a lead has led to the Sabres’ best stretch of hockey yet, and that’s a great sign as they begin November.

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Wednesday is also the on-ice debut for the Sabres’ Hometown Remix uniforms – the jerseys and merchandise are available now at The Sabres Store and BuffaloProShop.com.

Here are all the details before the 7:30 puck drop.

How to watch

TV (Sabres broadcast market): MSG (Pregame coverage begins at 7 p.m.)

Streaming (Sabres broadcast market): DAZN

Radio: WGR 550 / Buffalo Sabres App

More ways to watch/listen to Sabres games

Lineup notes

Zach Benson missed Monday’s practice for maintenance, was a full participant Tuesday and is available to play, coach Lindy Ruff said.

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Colten Ellis is expected to start in net after going 2-0-0 in California. Otherwise, based on practice, the Sabres should be rolling out the same lineup from the end of the trip:

Notable numbers

• On Saturday, Tage Thompson moved into ninth on the Sabres’ all-time goals leaderboard with 223. Next up is eighth-place Miroslav Satan with 224.
• Thompson ranks third in the NHL with 63 shots on goal. That’s the most by a Sabre through 14 games since Evander Kane (69 in 2017).
• Benson’s nine primary assists tie him for ninth in the NHL.
• Benson has is plus-10 with 12 total points (2+10) in his last nine games.
• Rasmus Dahlin has four assists in his last two games.
• Sabres’ hits leaders: Beck Malenstyn (52), Peyton Krebs (30), Dahlin (18).
• Sabres’ shot block leaders: Mattias Samuelsson (24), Louis Crevier (19), Owen Power (17).
• The Sabres went 6-1-0 against the Senators between the last two seasons, outscoring them 29-15. Jack Quinn scored five goals in those seven games.

Scouting the Senators

Ottawa started the season 5-1-0 but has since gone 4-5-1. Issues over the last 10 include special teams (11% PP, 69% PK) and an .858 team save percentage.

Goalies Samuel Ersson (.866 SV%) and Jonas Johansson (.848) have split the net while Linus Ullmark has been out with a lower-body injury. Ullmark, who’s 7-1-0 with a .945 this season has been on the trip but isn't expected to play Wednesday. Ottawa is also without forward William Eklund, a big offseason trade pickup who went down with an ankle injury in his fourth game.

The Senators’ week in California included some wild games. They mounted a four-goal, third-period comeback in Los Angeles before losing in overtime. In Anaheim, an early 3-0 lead unraveled into a 6-3 loss.