Game #33

Buffalo Sabres (8-18-6) vs. Carolina Hurricanes (12-11-7)

Season Series: 11/18 - Hurricanes 3, Sabres 1

Puck drop: 7:00 p.m. EST | Key Bank Center | Buffalo, NY

TV: MSG

Radio: WGR 550

SB Nation Hurricanes blog: Canes Country

What to Watch

1. Find some home cooking.

The Sabres are 2-6-0 in their last eight games on home ice. They’ve been outscored 24-14 over that stretch. One of those six losses has come against the Hurricanes back on November 18th. Giving the home fans something to enjoy again like Tuesday night against Ottawa would be ideal.

2. Girgensons needs to find consistency.

After being a healthy scratch Zemgus Girgensons played one of his better games of the season last night. He was all over the ice and aggressive on the forecheck. He forced the Flyers goaltender to turn the puck over early in the game that resulted in the only Sabres goal.

Know Your Opponent

1. Struggles in net continue.

The Canes were hoping they found a solution to their goaltending issues over the last few seasons with the addition of Scott Darling. Well, not so much. Darling has a .899 save percentage in 22 games. Cam Ward, on the other hand, isn’t much better with a .907 save percentage in nine games.

2. Inconsistency

The Hurricanes have been one of the most inconsistent teams all season. They had high expectations coming into the season that they haven’t lived up to. Coming into tonight they’ve picked up points in three of their last four games, but have only won once in their last five (1-2-2).

Projected Lineup (lineup game time decision besides Johnson)

67 Benoit Pouliot - 15 Jack Eichel - 29 Jason Pominville

9 Evander Kane - 71 Evan Rodrigues - 23 Sam Reinhart

28 Zemgus Girgensons - 90 Ryan O’Reilly - 21 Kyle Okposo

20 Scott Wilson - 22 Johan Larsson - 17 Jordan Nolan

6 Marco Scandella - 55 Rasmus Ristolainen

19 Jake McCabe - 47 Zach Bogosian

41 Justin Falk - 4 Josh Gorges

Starting Goaltender: 31 Chad Johnson