#SabresAfterDark with the Amazing Avs
Buffalo Sabres (5-7-4) vs. Colorado Avalanche (11-1-5)
Puck Drop: 9:00 PM EST | Ball Arena | Denver, CO
TV: MSG-B, ESPN+
Know Your Opponent
Colorado Avalanche
Record: 11-1-5 | 27 PTS
Last Game: 4-1 Win vs. Anaheim Ducks
Division Ranking: 1st in Central Division
PP: 17.9% (20th) [Sabres 16.7% (25th)]
PK: 88.9% (2nd) [Sabres 90.0% (1st)]
What to Watch
1. Nathan’s Noteworthy November
The Sabres clearly have a tough opponent in Colorado tonight. Making it even tougher will be facing guys on the ice like Nathan MacKinnon, who was named NHL’s First Star of the Week this past week. The Canadian center has also tallied an impressive 12 points in his last three games. Only one Sabre has more points the entire season.
MacKinnon has now surpassed legends Joe Sakic and Peter Stastny with his 11th 10-game point streak – the most in the team’s history. He is also at the very top of the league in both points and goals with 32 and 14, respectively. It is safe to say the Sabres’ defense need to keep a close eye on him throughout the game as he is just so unbelievably talented.
2. Battle of the Best Penalty Kills
Until very recently, the Sabres and Avalanche were neck and neck with the two best penalty kills in the league. While the Avs have only moved down slightly, the combination of our poor power play and their excellent penalty kill will undoubtedly be a problem. Another important stat to look at is goals allowed. Buffalo is, of course, one of the worst in the league with an average of 3.27, while Colorado’s average is one of the best at 2.41. This, paired with goaltending (more on that below), is a recipe for a tough game for Buffalo.
3. Goaltending Goals
With their ongoing struggles between the pipes year after year, the Sabres have at least been able to rely on one goaltender so far this season: Alex Lyon. Unfortunately, it is expected that Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen – who still has so much to prove this season – is starting in net tonight. A team that does not have any goaltending problems at the moment? Colorado, of course.
Scott Wedgewood was called upon early in the season to step into Mackenzie Blackwood’s spot following his injury. Even though Blackwood has returned, it is Wedgewood who has also become a legitimate starter with a .913 save percentage and 10-1-2 record. He only played 19 games last season, but this season he is the first goaltender in the league to reach 10 wins and his name is already part of the Vezina conversation. What a difference a year makes for teams like Colorado who scout and develop their players correctly.
Projected Lineups
Buffalo Sabres
Forwards
Tage Thompson – Ryan McLeod – Alex Tuch
Isak Rosen – Noah Ostlund – Jack Quinn
Jordan Greenway – Tyson Kozak – Josh Doan
Josh Dunne – Peyton Krebs – Beck Malenstyn
Defense
Owen Power – Mattias Samuelsson
Bowen Byram – Conor Timmins
Jacob Bryson – Michael Kesselring
Goaltenders: Alex Lyon, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (expected), Colten Ellis
Colorado Avalanche
Forwards
Artturi Lehkonen – Nathan MacKinnon – Martin Necas
Ross Colton – Brock Nelson – Valeri Nichushkin*
Gabriel Landeskog – Jack Drury – Victor Olofsson
Parker Kelly – Zakhar Bardakov – Gavin Brindley
* Nichushkin left the game last night with a lower body injury and is expected to miss the game
Defense
Devon Toews – Cale Makar
Josh Manson – Brent Burns
Jack Ahcan – Sam Malinski
Goaltenders: Scott Wedgewood, Mackenzie Blackwood (confirmed)
