Sabres vs Sharks Game Preview: Afternoon Delight

Game #12

Buffalo Sabres (3-6-2) vs. San Jose Sharks (4-5-0)

Season Series: 10/12 - Sharks 3, Sabres 2

Puck drop: 1:00 p.m. EST | Key Bank Center | Buffalo, NY

TV: MSG

Radio: WGR 550

SB Nation Sharks blog: Fear The Fin

What to Watch

1. Afternoon Delight

The Sabres carry a 6-4 record dating back to last season on games that start 1 or 3 PM. Although the first-afternoon game didn’t go so well this season with a 6-2 loss to the New Jersey Devils. We’ll see if the Sabres can find their afternoon success today.

2. Lineup Shuffle

After scoring only two goals in the previous two games, Phil Housley is mixing up the lines again. Kyle Okposo is back with Ryan O’Reilly and Jason Pominville is back with Jack Eichel. Also, Justin Bailey looks like he’ll skate with Sam Reinhart and Zemgus Girgensons on the third line. Will this edition of the lines spark the scoring?

3. Can Lehner keep it going in the right direction?

Robin Lehner will be back in goal for the Sabres. Coming off a shutout in his last start where he made 32 saves. The Sabres are hoping he can keep up with the strong play. Lehner made 23 saves on 26 shots when they visited the Sharks a few weeks ago.

Projected Lines

9 Evander Kane - 15 Jack Eichel - 29 Jason Pominville

67 Benoit Pouliot - 90 Ryan O’Reilly - 21 Kyle Okposo

28 Zemgus Girgensons - 23 Sam Reinhart - 95 Justin Bailey

17 Jordan Nolan - 22 Johan Larsson - 25 Seth Griffith

6 Marco Scandella - 55 Rasmus Ristolainen

5 Matt Tennyson - 19 Jake McCabe

38 Zach Redmond - 93 Victor Antipin

Starting Goaltender: 40 Robin Lehner