Ottawa goalie Martin Gerber will be back between the pipes Thursday night when the Senators host Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Ottawa is coming off a 4-2 loss to the Sabres in Buffalo on Wednesday night with goalie Ray Emery in net. The Senators fell behind 3-0 in the first period and never recovered.
Ottawa Senator goaltender Martin Gerber leads the NHL in wins with 13.
(Fred Chartrand/Canadian Press)
Emery, who backstopped the Senators to the Stanley Cup finals in the spring, hadn't played since a 4-1 loss to the Washington Capitals on Nov. 8 — and it showed.
Despite making 27 saves, he moved awkwardly at times and looked every bit a goaltender with only four starts under his belt this season. Three of Buffalo's goals were scored from the lip of the crease; Emery simply misjudged Ales Kotalik's slapshot.
"The first period is what sank our ship," Emery said. "After that, they just played well enough to maintain their lead."
Emery will be back on the bench against the Penguins but he isn't being punished for his shaky performance against the Sabres — Senators coach John Paddock told reporters before that game that Gerber will be in goal against Pittsburgh.
Gerber has been sensational for the Senators this season. The Swiss netminder leads the NHL in wins with 13 and sports a sparkling 1.85 goals-against average.
He is also 2-0-0 lifetime versus the Penguins.
Ottawa centre Randy Robitaille, who bruised his left hand in Monday's win in Montreal, didn't play against the Sabres. He practised with his teammates Wednesday morning but was still having trouble shooting and is questionable for Thursday's game.
In addition, the Senators will be without right-winger Patrick Eaves, who left the Buffalo game in the first period with a separated right shoulder.
Ottawa recalled centre Alexander Nikulin Thursday from their American Hockey League affiliate in Binghamton, N.Y.
Ottawa hosts the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday (CBC, 6:30 p.m. ET).
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