Preview: Kicking Off the Home Stand

Game #50

Buffalo Sabres (14-26-9) vs. New Jersey Devils (24-16-8)

Season Series: 1-1

10/9 - Devils 6 | Sabres 2 (recap)

12/29 - Sabres 4 | Devils 3 (OT) (recap)

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

TV: MSG

Radio: WGR 550

SB Nation Devils blog: All About the Jersey

What to Watch

1. Going for 4.

The Sabres have the opportunity to win their fourth straight game after completing a Western Canada sweep prior to the All-Star break. This would be the first time they’ve won four in a row since December 2014.

2. Shutout Streak

Robin Lehner was named the NHL’s third star of the week with his two straight shutouts last week. He’ll put his 120-minute shutout streak on the line against the Devils tonight.

3. Back at Home

The Sabres are back at home after they spent most of January on the road. Tonight begins a five-game home stand for the club. In fact 9 of the next 11 games will be played in the confides of KeyBank Center. Home ice should be an advantage, but going into the game tonight they’ve only won once on home ice since Christmas.

Know Your Opponent

1. Injuries

Taylor Hall who was out with a thumb injury is expected to return to the lineup tonight. Backup goaltender Keith Kinkaid is also expected to return and start in goal. Cory Schneider will not play as he’s nursing a groin injury. Brian Boyle is expected to arrive in Buffalo later today from the All-Star game but is a game-time decision.

2. Mid-Season Struggles

The Devils enter tonight on the opposite of the spectrum than the Sabres are on. They lost four straight going into the All-Star break. The scoring has gone cold as they only managed three goals in those four games and surrendered 12.

Projected Lineup

28 Zemgus Girgensons - 15 Jack Eichel - 21 Kyle Okposo

20 Scott Wilson - 90 Ryan O’Reilly - 23 Sam Reinhart

9 Evander Kane - 22 Johan Larsson - 29 Jason Pominville

67 Benoit Pouliot - 71 Evan Rodrigues - 13 Nick Baptiste

6 Marco Scandella - 55 Rasmus Ristolainen

93 Victor Antipin - 19 Jake McCabe

41 Justin Falk - 8 Casey Nelson

Starting Goaltender: 40 Robin Lehner