Sabres Sink Teeth Into Senators: Buffalo 4, Ottawa 2

Jason Spezza's second period burst of offensive panache made this one interesting, but in the end the Senators could not climb out of the 3-0 hole they dug themselves tonight in Buffalo. The first period was the Sens' weakest, foreshowed by the momentum crushing goal they gave up 15 seconds after the opening faceoff. With just over three minutes left to play in the period, Drew Stafford walked around Jason Smith and slid the puck past Alex Auld seemingly by accident. While you have to give the Senators credit for not giving up - they outshot Buffalo 11-4 in the third - goals like these add to the list of signals that this team has some very deep flaws.

Props to Jarkko Ruutu for bringing some intrigue to this one. The Finnish frustrator must have been watching last night’s WJC final, as he appeared to be inspired by the antics of Joakim Anderson. Ruutu seems to have bit the finger of Andrew Peters in response to a Peters face wash during the second period. The video evidence on this once seems pretty damning, but you have to love how Ruutu reacted to the media’s post-game interrogation. He not only denied biting Peters, he claimed Peters stuck was the one who stuck his finger in his mouth, and then proceeded to state that there would be no league sanction forthcoming because “nothing happened.” Now that’s what I call cojones: Taking a taste of a dude’s digit when there are 4,379 cameras watching you, pleading innocent, and then blaming the other guy for having his mitt in your grill. Either Ruutu is an invalid of considerable stature, or he was having a bit of fun with the media for his own personal entertainment. I’m going to assume the latter, given the intellectual frames he sports.

Part 39 of the Senators’ 82-part clinic entitled “How to Lose in the NHL” takes place Thursday within the unfriendly walls of the TD Banknorth Garden, where dreams have gone to die this season. If I were a betting man, I’d wager the Sens will be missing their agitator for this one.

On an administrative note, I would like to take a moment to recognize the Asian Spambot that ruined our once sexy comments sections with an utter lack of motive or reason. Thanks Asian Spambot. Of all the Spambots I know, you’re the best.