Sabres at Blues Preview: Drew Stafford is now a center, all our problems are solved

Game #17

Buffalo Sabres (3-11-2) at
St. Louis Blues (9-4-1)

Three Questions

1. Will Drew Stafford's move to center help spark the league's worst offense?

In search of something - anything - that will help them generate more offensive chances, the Sabres are sending Drew Stafford back to high school. Specifically, the position he played as a teenager - center. According to Chris Ryndak of Sabres.com, Stafford approached Nolan about moving back to the middle, and tonight he'll center a line between Nic Deslauriers and Cody Hodgson. It will be interesting to see how Stafford performs in his new position at both ends of the ice, but it looks like this group will be functioning as the team's fourth line tonight, which should keep them relatively sheltered.

2. Zemgus Girgensons finally gets a chance on the top line - can he find some quick chemistry with Moulson and Ennis?

Girgensons has been one of the Sabres best possession players this year, despite playing tough minutes and rarely getting a chance to play with the team's best offensive players - Tyler Ennis and Matt Moulson. Tonight, Girgensons centers the top line as Ennis moves back to the wing. Will Tyler be able to play the same dynamic game on the right side as he does in the middle? And will Girgensons

3. Can Michal Neuvirth post another save percentage above .940 against the pedestrian St.Louis offense?

In his last three starts, Neuvirth has save percentages of .942, .967, and .947, respectively, and as we've seen this year, the Sabres need top-notch goaltending to even be competitive against any and all opponents. With Jhonas Enroth struggling in recent games, Ted Nolan turns to Neuvirth tonight to keep things close against the 26th most productive offense in the league.

Projected BUF Lineup

Goal: Michal Neuvirth