OTTAWA -- Expectations are high for the Ottawa Senators this season, so head coach Paul MacLean can be excused for being a little nervous when he finally gets a chance to see his revamped regular-season roster in action. The Senators will put the busy off-season and training camp behind them when they open their regular season on the road. They kick things off Friday against the Buffalo Sabres and then head to Toronto to take on the Maple Leafs on Saturday. The Senators are expected to be a playoff team this season, with new acquisitions Bobby Ryan and Clarke MacArthur bolstering the forward lines and captain Jason Spezza and defenceman Erik Karlsson back from injury. "(Friday) nights the first time we really get tested as a group so were a little bit scared, little bit excited, more excited than scared," MacLean said. "We feel were a capable team, but we have to come here and do our work every day and when we do that I think well like where were going to be." Spezza is well aware of the expectations, and as captain he takes accountability in making sure the team is prepared. "Theres lots of optimism and high expectations for us," said Spezza. "With that comes the responsibility of making sure were ready to play every night so its a good challenge for us and a good challenging way to start the season as well." Spezza suffered a mild groin sprain in training camp and was restricted to just two pre-season games, but says he feels good and is looking forward to getting the season underway and seeing how he, Ryan and Milan Michalek execute as a line. "We expect to produce and how quickly we gel as a line is probably going to impact how we do in these first six games so wed like to get off to a good start," Spezza said. "Wed like to get on the board early and get some wins, but for us we just need to learn through our games." After missing most of last season due to a partially lacerated Achilles, Karlsson knows many will be watching to see if the 23-year-old can return to his Norris-Trophy winning form. "I think everyones really excited to finally get going again, especially the guys that missed a lot of time last year," Karlsson said. "Im one of them and Ive been looking forward to this all summer and (Friday) its finally time." MacLean is looking forward to seeing how his team fares against two division rivals after a lengthy training camp. "It gets us right into it which is what we want to do," MacLean said. "We dont want to be tiptoeing around or testing the water we want to get in there and get playing, get involved in the game right away and obviously Buffalo and Toronto being division games right off the bat a so for us its going to get us into the start of the season and get us right into the (division) battle." The Sabres opened the regular season Wednesday against the Detroit Red Wings with a 2-1 loss and know the Senators will offer another challenge. "Weve seen them a lot last year," said Sabres captain Steve Ott. "Obviously with having Spezza back full-time and Bobby Ryan now, it gives them another element. Theyre a really good hockey club. Its going to be a good test for us. "Those are the top-echelon teams - Detroit and Ottawa - theyre good measuring sticks for our club." After spending the last few days practising while most of the league got underway Craig Anderson is excited to get the start against the Sabres. "Were ready to get going here," said Anderson. "(Friday) it starts for real. Weve got to show up and the games start to count so theres a little bit of excitement in the room around getting the season started and making sure we get off on the right foot." Fridays game will mark Spezzas official debut as team captain. "Its a huge honour and it cant be understated how big of an honour it is to be a captain in this league," he said. "Im excited about the challenges ahead for me of being the captain and playing a regular season game with the C on will definitely be special." When asked if he cheered on former Senators captain Daniel Alfredsson when Detroit played Buffalo on Wednesday, Spezza was quick to reply: "I love Alf, were good friends, but theyre in our division. I only cheer for the Senators." Notes: MacLean said he would wait until Saturday before deciding whether or not Anderson will play back-to-back gamesaAnderson says he wont give much thought to facing-off against Ryan Miller, should he get the start, despite the fact both are being considered to represent the U.S. at the Olympic Winter Games. Cheap Jerseys . JOHNS, N. NHL Jerseys . - Tiger Woods only made it through 10 holes Thursday — this time because of the weather, not his back. https://www.cheapjerseysjustwholesale.com/. Crawford hit his slam off Pirates starter Edinson Volquez to give San Francisco a four run lead in the fourth and they never looked back. Brandon Belt had three runs batted in as well. Bumgarner pitched all nine innings and allowed just four hits. Nike Jerseys . - The Denver Broncos kept rookie wide receiver Tavarres King from joining the Green Bay Packers by promoting him to their active roster Tuesday. MLB Jerseys .The rookie goalie made 36 saves to help the Calgary Flames blank their Pacific Division rivals 1-0 on Saturday following a 48-hour ordeal that included lost baggage, a cancelled flight and a new pair of contact lenses. MINNEAPOLIS -- The Philadelphia Eagles were soaring after a big win in the snow the week before. This game was inside. Adrian Peterson was missing. The stage was set for another step toward the playoffs. Well, Matt Cassel and the Minnesota Vikings just made the flight path a bit bumpier. Cassel passed for two touchdowns and 382 yards, the most by a Minnesota quarterback since Brett Favre was here, and ran for another score to lead the injury-depleted Vikings to a 48-30 victory that snapped a five-game winning streak by the Eagles. "I dont think you can ever count out our players. Weve had some difficult moments this season, for sure, but I always believed," coach Leslie Frazier said. "Even early in the week I said, This game really doesnt have to be this close, except for the fact that we were going with so many guys in backup roles." With Peterson and Toby Gerhart out, third-stringer Matt Asiata rushed for his first three career touchdowns. Greg Jennings caught a career-high 11 passes for 163 yards. The Vikings (4-9-1) produced quite the spoiler performance without their top two running backs, top two tight ends and top three cornerbacks. This was their highest score since a 50-10 victory over Jacksonville on Dec. 20, 1998. "Got great camaraderie. Got good leadership. So as you can tell, nobodys letting down for anything," Cassel said Fresh from a decisive win at home over Detroit that gave them control of the NFC East over Dallas, the Eagles (8-6) fell flat in the controlled climate of the soon-to-be-demolished dome. They must play at the Cowboys the last week of the season. Nick Foles threw for a career-high 428 yards and second-half touchdown scores to DeSean Jackson, Zach Ertz and Jason Avant, but he was picked off by former teammate Shaun Prater at the Minnesota 5-yard line in the third quarter. League rushing leader LeSean McCoy had 38 yards on only eight carries after posting a career-high 217 yards last week. The Eagles had nine penalties for 94 yards. "I didnt feel they was going to be able to stop us and doing things they was able to do to us today," Jackson said. "Sometimes thats what happens when you go play a game. Theyre in the NFL, too. It was just a frustratting part, because I know how talented and dangerous this offence can be.ddddddddddddquot; Foles finished 30 for 48, including 10 completions for 195 yards to Jackson, but he took four sacks -- two each by Jared Allen and Brian Robison -- and misfired on several downfield passes. After the interception, Jackson was caught on camera shouting at the coaches. "When we were 3-5 and kind of dug ourselves out of a hole there, we were playing well on the offensive side of the ball and had a rhythm to what we were doing," coach Chip Kelly said. "Today we didnt." After nine straight games of allowing 21 points or less, the Eagles gave up their highest total since a 52-20 loss at Denver on Sept. 29. They cut the lead to 27-22 on a tricky catch in the back of the end zone by Ertz with 15 seconds left in the third quarter, but the 2-point conversion pass was broken up. The Eagles refused to kick deep to rookie Cordarrelle Patterson, the league leader in average yards per return. After a short popup kick by Alex Henery, who made three field goals in the first half, the Vikings took the ball at their own 46 and cruised to the end zone in six plays to push the lead back to 12 points. Cassel completed 26 of 35 passes and improved to 2-2 as a starter. In two other games, he relieved an injured Christian Ponder and helped guide the Vikings to victory. "Hes not worried about what couldve, shouldve, possibly or couldve possibly been," Jennings said. "He stays in the now. As a player, thats how we have to operate." Asiata needed 30 attempts to total 51 yards, but he helped the Vikings control the clock after taking an early lead. Their time of possession was 36 minutes, 26 seconds. "It says a lot about this team, just the fight in our backups and everything," wide receiver Jerome Simpson said. "They could go to any other team and play, too." NOTES: This was Cassels highest total since Nov. 14, 2010, a 469-yard performance for Kansas City. One week earlier, Favre had 446 yards against Arizona for Minnesota. ... The Eagles became the fifth team in NFL history to have 11 games in one season with at least 400 yards of offence. The record is 13 by New Orleans in 2011. ' ' '