Sabres to play their 38th indoor game of the season

The Sabres move back indoors tonight in their game against Ottawa. This is an important game for Buffalo and one that they must win.

Buffalo has lost four straight games now. This fact was mostly lost in the fact that all of the games were close (all by one goal not counting empty netters) and that the Sabres did manage to pick up two points over this span, by losing in a shootout instead of regulation. And with all of the excitement of the winter classic it is easy to overlook a few close losses. Buffalo won the six games before this streak, so they are still doing ok, but need to do better.

The Sabres are 1-2 against Ottawa so far this season, and need to establish that they can compete with the Senators. To do so they might want to look to the Washington Capitals. The Capitals have learned how to put up big points on the Senators, beating them last Saturday 8-6, and then coming back from down two goals to beat them 6-3 on New Years. Washington has been one of the weaker teams in the league this year, but if they can find a way to beat the Senators, then the Sabres should be able to as well.

One last note on the Ice Bowl, In two starts in outdoor games Ryan Miller has gotten a tie in both of them. With Michigan State, Miller tied Michigan 3-3 in 2000 and then with the Sabres tied Pittsburgh last week before losing in the shootout.

The NHL was kept quiet about any future plans for outdoor games, but is expected to do something for next season.