Wednesday May 13 7pm
The Ottawa Senators put their four-game home playoff game winning streak on the line and can knot the series at two games apiece when they play host to the Washington Capitals in Game Four of their Eastern Conference semifinal series tonight.
Daniel Alfredsson scored three goals in a 12-minute span of the first period and Damian Rhodes turned aside a pair of solid scoring chances in the final five minutes as Ottawa edged Washington, 4-3, in Game Three of the series on Monday.
When playing at the Corel Centre in the postseason, the Senators have dominated. They have outscored their opponents, 13-8 and have gone 7-for-17 on the power play. Alfreddson, who is the only player to have two hat tricks in the playoffs this season, has six goals and an assist in his last three home contests.
Peter Bondra and Richard Zednik each had a goal and an assist in Monday's loss, which stopped the Caps' three-game road playoff winning streak. Adam Oates and Sergei Gonchar lead Washington with five goals apiece.
On the road, Washington appears to have been outplayed despite the 3-1 road mark. The Capitals have not managed more than three goals and have been outshot, 175-95 in the four postseason road games.
Game Five of the series will be played Friday night in Washington.
#6 BUFFALO SABERS vs #7 MONTREAL CANADIENS
Thursday May 14 7:30pm
The Buffalo Sabres look to complete the four-game sweep and secure a spot in the Eastern Conference finals tonight when they face the Montreal Canadiens. After Buffalo won the first two games of the series at home, the teams battled into double overtime in Game Three on Tuesday before Mike Peca's second goal of the game at 1:24 gave the Sabres a 5-4 victory.
Buffalo has not been in the conference finals since 1980.
The victory was the sixth straight for the Sabres since losing Game Two to Philadelphia in the quarterfinals. During the six-game winning streak, Buffalo has outscored its opponents, 27-13.
Even more bad news for the Canadiens is that all-world goaltender Dominik Hasek was superb in the third period and in both overtimes after struggling in the first two frames. Hasek stopped all 28 shots over the final three periods after allowing four goals on 18 shots in the first two.
The Canadiens are trying to avert what could be the third four-game sweep in franchise history. Montreal was swept in 1952 by Detroit and in 1992 by Boston.
Sabres defenseman Jason Woolley has quietly put together a six-game points streak with one goal and seven assists. Right wing Donald Audette has two goals and five assists during his six-game points streak. Right wing Matthew Barnaby leads the Sabres with nine postseason points.
As if facing elimination wasn't enough, the Canadiens now have a goaltending dilemma to deal with. Veteran Andy Moog started the first eight playoff games but performed poorly in Game Two so Jocelyn Thibault started Game Three. But Thibault was pulled after allowing four goals on 13 shots and replaced by Jose Theodore, who stopped all 16 shots he faced before surrendering Peca's game-winner.
Left wing Mark Recchi leads Montreal with four goals and 12 points, while left wing Shayne Corson and center Vincent Damphousse are tied for second with nine points apiece.
Montreal is 1-for-19 on the power play through three games.
Should the Canadiens win tonight, Game Five would be Sunday afternoon in Buffalo.
