Don't look now, but the Buffalo Sabres are in danger of passing the Ottawa Senators and climbing out of the Eastern Conference basement. Even though the Sens hold two games in hand on the Sabres, a regulation loss to said team from Buffalo and there will be just one point separating the two clubs for the second seed in the draft lottery.

The Senators begin life without Dion Phaneuf after Tuesday night's trade that sent him to the Kings. Phaneuf took a lot of grief for a contract he signed with the Leafs, but he was a steady influence on the blue line and in the room and will be missed. That won't be the only move that Pierre Dorion makes, and the next week and a half will have everyone on pins and needles, checking twitter or TSN every five minutes to see what ball will drop next. Its is a tough way to play, but with so many names in play, or potentially in play, focusing on the task at hand becomes tough.

Someone will have to pick up the slack for the departed defenseman, and expect Thomas Chabot to be the big beneficiary of the 20+ minutes of available ice time. Chabot is averaging just over 15 minutes per night on the season, and has topped 20 minutes just 7 times in 36 games this season, a total which he will likely surpass every night from here on out as he gets more prime minutes.

Freddie Claesson will step in as the 6th defenseman for the time being after being a regular healthy scratch or playing less than 11 minutes as a 7th defenseman when Guy Boucher goes to that lineup.

With newly acquired Marian Gaborik (wearing #12) and Nick Shore (wearing #23) expected to be in the lineup, Max McCormick was sent to Belleville and Chris DiDomenico was put on waivers Wednesday and if he clears he could be sent down as well. Gaborik has 1 point in his last 12 games, following a big 5 point in three game outburst around New Year's. He turned 36 yesterday, and has 14 points (7G, 7A) in 30 games with the Kings this season. Shore had 15 points (4G, 11A) in 49 games with the Kings before the deal, and had 2 points in his last 3 games as a King.

The Sabres have a big lineup change of their own, as their leading goal and assist man Jack Eichel left Saturday's win over the Bruins early with a high ankle sprain and is out 4-6 weeks. Nonetheless, the Sabres have won 3 of their last 4 including wins over the Bruins on Saturday and the Lightning on Tuesday.

Despite the fact that Chad Johnson was in goal for the wins over Boston and Tampa, expect Robin Lehner to get the start for the Sabres. He enjoys putting it to his former team whenever he gets the chance, posting a 5-0-2 record with a 1.39 GAA and .955 SP against the Senators since he was dealt to the Sabres three summers ago for the pick that turned out to be Colin White.

Neither one has inspired much confidence, so I guess the Senators come back with Craig Anderson by default after Mike Condon faltered in Pittsburgh, the game after Anderson faltered in Toronto. Ottawa goalies have been pulled 7 times so far this season, and Tuesday was the second time that it happened in back to back games.

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