Game 6 Preview + Open Thread: Sabres @ Senators

Craig Anderson: the best goalie in Ottawa Senators franchise history. The 42-year-old will sign a one-day contract with the Senators today so that he can officially retire as a Senator and will get honoured by the organization tonight. He played in Ottawa for 9.5 seasons and will always be remembered for his phenomenal playoff performances with a career .929 SV%, ranking 3rd all-time. He wasn't able to get a proper send-off during the 2019-20 season due to covid, and tonight will be a great send-off. I'd be surprised if he doesn't get inducted into the Ring of Honour eventually, which would be well deserved.

Here are some of Anderson's best moments as a Senator:

Tomorrow night’s game closes another chapter in #Sens history as Craig Anderson calls it a career. Enjoy some of our favourite #Sens saves from the winningest goalie in franchise history, and make sure you arrive early for the pre-game celebration!

🎟️ : https://t.co/4MWFDguDqT pic.twitter.com/3rQzHUAB5L

— Ottawa Senators (@Senators) October 23, 2023

The Buffalo Sabres are in town after losing 3-1 last night to the Montreal Canadiens at home. Just like the Detroit Red Wings, the Sabres will be a great team to compare with this season, as all three teams are hoping to be the ones to break into the playoffs.

Game Notes:

• Claire Hanna noted this morning that Anton Forsberg was participating in morning skate in the starters end, so expect the Swedish netminder to be between the pipes tonight.
• Artem Zub is out of the lineup for the second straight game, with Jacob Bernard-Docker taking his place. There's a chance he could play on Thursday though, so he's not far away.
• After the loss against Detroit, I'd expect the Sens blueline to be more of a five-man group if Buffalo starts well.
• With Zub out and not the best showing from the defense corps on Saturday, DJ Smith has shaken his pairs up. Thomas Chabot and Jake Sanderson will start the game together, while Jakob Chychrun and Travis Hamonic will round out the top four.
• Thomas Chabot had a maintenance day yesterday and it was noted that he was not fully healthy on Saturday against Detroit. He'll be playing tonight, hopefully at 100%.
• The Sabres are 2-4-0 on the season and have struggled a bit so far. They still have a ton of talent on their roster, so this game will be a good measuring stick.
• Buffalo has only scored 13 goals in six games, and Alex Tuch, Zach Benson, Rasmus Dahlin, and Victor Olofsson are all without a goal. Let's hope the Senators don't wake them up.
• Ottawa went 2-1-1 against Buffalo last season, and they are 7-2-1 against them over their past 10 games.
• I'm hopeful that Dominik Kubalik can finally get on the scoresheet. He, Mark Kastelic, and Rourke Chartier are the only forwards without a goal or point so far. It's not as if the Senators have been starving for goals, but they still need something from Kubalik.
• Note the start time! This game was already scheduled for a 6:45pm start, and Andy's ceremony will take place before that.

Where to watch/listen: Watch on TSN5 or listen on TSN1200, 6:45pm

Lines:

Here is how the Senators lined up at morning skate:

Tkachuk - Stützle - Giroux
Kubalik - Norris - Batherson
Joseph - Greig - Tarasenko
Kelly - Chartier - Kastelic

Chabot - Sanderson
Chychrun - Hamonic
Brännström - Bernard-Docker

Forsberg
Korpisalo

And here is how the Sabres lined up last night against the Montreal Canadiens, so these could stay the same:

Greenway - Thompson - Cozens
Skinner - Mittelstadt - Tuch
Peterka - Krebs - Olofsson
Girgensons - Jost - Okposo

Dahlin - Samuelsson
Power - Jokiharju
Clifton - Johnson

Luukkonen (starter)
Comrie
Levi (day-to-day)