Ten points out of third place in the Atlantic Division and also the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference, the Buffalo Sabres begin a make-it-or-break-it stretch that features nine of their next 10 games at home on Tuesday night when they host the struggling Ottawa Senators.

Buffalo, which is 14-6-3 on its home ice this season, kicks off a five-game homestand against an Ottawa squad that has just one regulation win in its last 11 games (1-5-5). The Senators will also be playing the second game of a back-to-back set that began with a 4-3 shootout loss to visiting New Jersey on Monday night.

"It is an opportunity that we all know will decide which direction this season goes, and we need to jump and be an outstanding home team here for the next few weeks," Buffalo coach Ralph Krueger said.