Thibault Time

By Chris

Ottawa again?

It's going to be a relief next season when the Senators aren't going to be on the schedule eight times a year, but for now we're all just going to have to live with it. But tonight we might end up dying with it.

Jocelyn Thibault is expected to get the start for the Buffalo Sabres tonight. The same Jocelyn Thibault of a 2-3 record, a 3.64 goals against average and a .857 save percentage. When he came in for relief of Ryan Miller last Friday against these same Senators, he allowed two goals on 11 shots in 27:09.

He's going to need all the help he can get from his defense. Teppo Numminen, however, won't be skating anytime soon. The Sabres doctors have not cleared him to play and it puts the 39-year old defenseman's season in jeopardy.

I know the heart complication was unexpected at the start of training camp, but in hindsight, it looks like $2.6 million just thrown away. So we've got that going for us, which is nice.

The Sabres, winless in their last seven, face off against the Sens, the beasts of the Eaast, at 7:30 in Kanata. Here's hoping for the best...and expecting the worst.