NHL Matchup - November 21, 2007

The Ottawa Senators will be trying for their fourth-straight win at the HSBC Arena when they visit the Buffalo Sabres in a Northeast division clash Wednesday night.

This will be the second of eight meetings this season for the teams, which sit at opposite ends of the division. Last Thursday, the Senators edged the Sabres 3-2 at home. Ottawa is 7-2-0-1 in the past 10 games head-to-head, and last lost in Buffalo on Feb. 22, 2007, when it dropped a 6-5 decision.

Ottawa (16-3-0 SU) is 6-1-0 on the road this season, while Buffalo (7-10-1 SU) is 5-4-0 at home.

For over/under bettors, there is a very strong “Under” trend with both Ottawa and Buffalo, both in overall recent play and head-to-head. The total score has gone Under in four of Ottawa's past five games, Under in five of Ottawa's past six on the road, Under in four of Ottawa's past five against Buffalo, Under in six of Ottawa's past nine on the road against Buffalo, and Under in five of Buffalo's past five.

Ottawa is 6-1 SU in its past seven games on the road, 6-1 SU in its past seven against Buffalo, and 6-2 SU in its past eight on the road against Buffalo.

Buffalo forward Tim Connolly is listed as day-to-day with a strained abdomen.

Ottawa will start Ray Emery in goal and Buffalo will go with Ryan Miller.

Betting Line: Ottawa is a 140-moneyline favorite at Bodog Life . The over/under is 5½.

Game 2

The Vancouver Canucks will be at the Xcel Energy Center to battle Northwest division rival Minnesota Wild in what could be a raucous affair Wednesday night.

The teams played last Friday in Vancouver in a spirited contest won 6-2 by the Canucks. There were plenty of skirmishes, capped by Canuck defenseman Mattias Ohlund slashing Minnesota forward Mikko Koivu after Koivu elbowed Ohlund in the face.
Both will be out for Wednesday’s rematch. Koivu has a broken leg and Ohlund was given a four-game suspension on Sunday.
The Vancouver Canucks website and The Vancouver Sun are reporting that backup goalie Curtis Sanford will get the start tonight. Minnesota has indicated it will start Josh Harding in net.
Minnesota is 6-2-0-2 over the past 10 games against Vancouver. The Canucks won the last time they played in Minnesota, a 3-2 victory on Feb. 14, 2007.
Vancouver (10-8-2 SU) lost 5-4 to the Edmonton Oilers in a shootout Tuesday, while Minnesota (11-7-2 SU) beat the Colorado Avalanche 4-1 at home Sunday.
The over/under total has gone Over in four of Vancouver's past six games against Minnesota, and Over in four of Minnesota's past six games.

Betting Line: Minnesota is a 205-moneyline favorite at BetMaker. The over/under is 5.