from Fluto Shinzawa of the Boston Globe,

Buffalo is the worst team in the league. The Sabres entered the night without a win in their last seven games. They were playing their second game in two nights. Their roster is stuffed with borderline varsity players, ranging from Tim Schaller to Philip Varone to Zac Dalpe.

Buffalo is a team built to lose with the hopes of the ultimate win in June: the opportunity to select Connor McDavid as its reward for bottoming out.

The Bruins were lucky to get 1 point out of the decision.

The numbers say the Bruins deserved a better fate than a 2-1 shootout loss. They led in shot attempts, 95-47. They hammered Anders Lindback with 44 pucks. For the first 40 minutes, the Bruins looked like they were playing keepaway rather than hockey by grabbing a 26-10 shot advantage.

But the Bruins are at a stage where attaboys are not handed out for advantages in shot attempts or zone time. They need points. They only got 1 when 2, given the situation, were required.

The Senators took care of their business by beating the Hurricanes in overtime Tuesday, 2-1. Andrew Hammond tied a league record by launching his NHL career with 12 straight starts with three goals or fewer. This is the goalie the Bruins must stare down on Thursday. With Hammond in net, the Senators could close the gap to 2 points with a regulation win at Canadian Tire Centre.

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