Buffalo Sabres (5-8-4) at Detroit Red Wings (10-7-0)
Puck Drop: 7:00 PM | Little Ceasars Arena | Detroit, Michigan
TV: MSG-B
Radio: WGR 550
Know Your Opponent
Detroit Red Wings
Record: 10-7-0 | 20 PTS
Division Ranking: 4th in Atlantic Division
Last Game: 6-3 Win vs Anaheim
PP: 13th (21.1%) | Sabres Rank: 21st (17.3%)
PK: 13th (81.3%) | Sabres Rank: 1st (90.4%)
What to Watch
1. Reverse the Trend
The Sabres are in the midst of a rut that could tank their entire season. They are winless in 8 of their last 9 games and failed to record a point in their last 4. Their next opportunity comes against a division rival that currently sits in a playoff spot. Detroit has had a mixed start to the year. Since losing to Buffalo on October 22nd, they have 5 wins and 5 losses. All those losses have been in regulation and two of their wins have been shootouts. This is a winnable game for Buffalo regardless of their injuries. The Sabres cannot let the current slide continue or else their season will be lost before reinforcements arrive.
2. Exploit the Goaltending
Detroit has suffered from inconsistent goaltending this season. Despite acquiring John Gibson in the offseason to stabilize the position, both he and Cam Talbot have save percentages below .900 and goals against averages around 3. As a team they have surrendered an average of 4 goals a game over their last three. The Sabres should attack the net and make Talbot as uncomfortable as possible. Even with their depleted forward group, this game presents an opportunity to rack up some goals.
3. Situational Hockey
Coaches will tell you the worst times to give up a goal are the first two minutes of a period or two minutes immediately following one of your goals for. Buffalo failed on both accounts against Colorado. They gave up the opening marker within the first minute and the eventual game winner less than 90 seconds after tying the game. They will need to clean up their game to set themselves up for success. If they make the same mistakes again, it will be very difficult to notch their first road win of the season.
Projected Lineups
Buffalo Sabres
Forwards
McLeod – Thompson – Tuch
Rosen – Ostlund – Quinn
Greenway – Kozak – Doan
Dunne – Krebs – Malenstyn
Defense
Samuelsson – Power
Byram – Timmins
Bryson – Kesselring
Starter: Luukkonen
Detroit Red Wings
Forwards
Debrincat – Larkin – Raymond
Finnie – Compher – Kane
Kasper – Danielson – Appleton
Rasmussen – Copp – Berggren
Defense
Edvinsson – Seider
Chiarot – Sandin-Pellinkka
Johansson – Bernard-Docker
Starter: Talbot
