Big Weekend For Sabres In Playoff Drive

The Buffalo Sabres can strengthen their playoff fate this weekend by hosting the Ottawa Senators on Friday noght and welcome the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday at the HSBC Arena.

First up is the Ottawa Senators, the thorn in the side of the Sabres for many years. Buffalo has lost 24 times to the Senators since the lockout. Kind of reminds me of New England's dominance over the Buffalo Bills.

With Buffalo holding a seven-point lead over Ottawa for first place and with two games in hand, a victory by the Sabres over the Senators would virtually extinguish any hopes Ottawa would have of overtaking Buffalo.

But it's a big test for Buffalo. It's a game that Ottawa is going to be thirsy and hungry to stay in the hunt and one the Sabres need to officially clinch to at least a playoff berth. Plus, Buffalo NEEDS to prove they can beat the Senators. PERIOD.

Tampa Bay rolls into town on Saturday and are basically playing out the string.

Expect to see Patrick Lalime in the nets for the Sabres.

Lalime NEEDS to come up with a big game and get the monkey off his back along with the boo-birds.

I have never been a Lalime fan and not addressing a back-up goalie at the trade deadline could bite Darcy Regier right in the rear end. Thankfully Lalime is in the last year of his contract.

I am so sick of hearing the same mumbo-jumbo from Sabres' players on how hard Lalime works in practice and that fans should give him a break.

Well, he may work hard in practice but his game performance is what fans only see and react to.

Contribute, Patrick. Post a big win or a shutout and Lalime will be a hero until his next start.

The Sabres have posted four straight wins and two more this weekend should clinch the Northeast Division title and a shot at the second seed in the East.

And maybe we can see if Lalime can rebound and help out against an inferior team.