Sabres vs Red Wings Game Preview: National TV Game

Game #10

Buffalo Sabres (2-5-2) vs. Detroit Red Wings (4-4-1)

Puck drop: 7:30 p.m. EST | Key Bank Center | Buffalo, NY

TV: NBCSN

Radio: WGR 550

SB Nation Red Wings blog: Winging it in Motown

What to Watch

1. Can Eichel spark Okposo?

Kyle Okposo will be skating on the wing with Evander Kane and Eichel today. The forward is still looking for his first goal of the season and Phil Housley may be hoping that playing with Eichel can kick-start his season.

2. Pouliot at center?

Looks like Benoit Pouliot will play the center position if lines from practice this morning stand up. He’ll be with Justin Bailey and Jordan Nolan (poor Bailey). Zemgus Girgensons did practice with the team today and Housley said he was close to returning.

3. Can the Sabres solve Jimmy Howard?

Howard has owned the Sabres through his career with an 8-0-1 record and a .942 save percentage. He’ll be between the pipes again for the wings tonight. He’s 3-2-0 on the season with a 2.81 GAA and .916 save percentage.

Projected Lineup

9 Evander Kane - 15 Jack Eichel - 21 Kyle Okposo

23 Sam Reinhart - 90 Ryan O’Reilly - 29 Jason Pominville

17 Jordan Nolan - 67 Benoit Pouliot - 95 Justin Bailey

26 Matt Moulson - 22 Johan Larsson - 25 Seth Griffith

55 Rasmus Ristolainen - 6 Marco Scandella

19 Jake McCabe - 27 Taylor Fedun

93 Victor Antipin - 5 Matt Tennyson

Starting Goaltender: 40 Robin Lehner