At least for a few hours, the Sabres are eighth in the Eastern Conference after Saturday's 3-1 win over the Wild in First Niagara Center. Buffalo fans rooting for the woeful Wild to fall on their collective faces last night will now be waving the Minnesota flag today as the Wild plays a 5 p.m. game in the Verizon Center against the Washington Capitals.
The Caps will draw even in games played with the Sabres today at 76. They have 82 points and Buffalo has 84, so a Washington win will have the teams dead even heading into their showdown in DC on Tuesday night. Wow.
In other Eastern Conference games today:
Florida hosts the New York Islanders, looking for a season sweep and to maintain their four-point lead over the Caps in the Southeast Division.
New Jersey is at Pittsburgh, with the Penguins looking to pull within one point of the Rangers for the top spot in the East -- and the foe for the No. 8 seed.
Boston is at Anaheim looking to add to its Northeast Division lead. Huge 4-2 win for the Bruins last night in Los Angeles kept both Ottawa and Buffalo at bay, when the Sens and Sabres could have pulled within one and three points, respectively.
---Mike Harrington
(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)
