Pominville set to play 1,000th game in Ottawa

OTTAWA -Jason Pominville appreciates the coincidental aspect of playing his 1,000th NHL game against the Ottawa Senators at Canadian Tire Centre, the same building where he scored the most memorable goal of his career some 12 years ago.
If you're new to the program, Pominville went wide on Daniel Alfredsson in Game 5 of Buffalo's second-round series with Ottawa in 2006, cut across the net and scored the series-clinching shorthanded goal in overtime.
The call from Rick Jeanneret has become a part of the franchise's all-time highlight reel.

"By far my best moment as a player has come here and the biggest goal I've scored," Pominville said. "Couldn't have been a better spot to have it. It'll be nice for me but also my family, friends, everybody who will be here for this. It will be a really special moment for everyone."
Pominville will become the 328th player to play 1,000 games and the 11th to accomplish the feat in a Sabres uniform. He'll play on the top line alongside Jeff Skinner and Jack Eichel, amid a personal five-game point streak (4+5).
That production at age 35 is a testament to Pominville's tireless work ethic and discipline. He's played 82 games in a season eight times, a feat only six players have surpassed.
"I've always taken a lot of pride in my summer workouts, habits and taking care of myself, whether it's at the rink or during the summer or away from the rink," he said. "Yeah, there were probably games where I didn't feel great. Trainers helped me out big time. But I think it's just taking care of yourself and what you do away from the rink goes a long way."

Pominville said he's made it a point to lead by example in a young Sabres dressing room. It hasn't gone unnoticed.
"It shows his dedication to the game and how he approaches everything, how he comes to the rink and just having the passion to continue to do it, you have to take really good care of yourself," Sabres coach Phil Housley said.
"Your training in the summer is really important. But he's always been a hard worker to me, first and foremost. It's great to see him get rewarded for all the hard work he's put into it."

How many games are left beyond 1,000? It's hard to say. Pominville hasn't made any sort of goal for what age he'd like to play until. He's focused on the season and game at hand.
"I'm just honestly trying to enjoy the moment and go a day at a time, enjoy this week and see after that," he said. "A lot of it is feel, see how you feel after the season and how your body feels and how your body holds up and family decisions after that."
Coverage of Pominville's 1,000th game begins at 7 p.m. on MSG-B with the GMC Game Night Pregame Show. You can also listen live on WGR 550. The puck drops at 7:30.

Projected lineup

Remi Elie will dress for the first time Oct. 18, replacing Tage Thompson in the lineup. He'll skate on a line with Casey Mittelstadt and Sam Reinhart.
"He's been sitting for a while, he's been waiting, he's been working hard in practice," Housley said. "He's had a really good approach every day even though he's been out, with a good attitude and he's been a good teammate. So, we're going to give him an opportunity. I just like what he's going to bring to our team, which is speed and physicality."
Jake McCabe (upper body) will be a game-time decision on defense. If he does dress, here's how the full lineup is expected to look based on Wednesday's practice, with Carter Hutton starting in net:
53 Jeff Skinner - 9 Jack Eichel - 29 Jason Pominville
43 Conor Sheary - 17 Vladimir Sobotka - 21 Kyle Okposo
81 Remi Elie - 37 Casey Mittelstadt - 23 Sam Reinhart
10 Patrik Berglund - 22 Johan Larsson - 28 Zemgus Girgensons
19 Jake McCabe - 55 Rasmus Ristolainen
6 Marco Scandella - 4 Zach Bogosian
26 Rasmus Dahlin - 8 Casey Nelson
40 Carter Hutton
35 Linus Ullmark