Game 34

Buffalo Sabres (19-9-5) vs Boston Bruins (17-11-4)

Puck Drop: 5:00 PM | TD Garden | Boston, MA

TV: MSG-B

Radio: WGR 550

SB Nation Bruins blog: Stanley Cup of Chowder

Know Your Opponent

Boston Bruins

Record: (17-11-4) | 38 points

Last 10: 5-5-0

Division Ranking: 5th in the Atlantic Division

Conference Ranking: 6th in the Eastern Conference

PP: 6th (25.7%)

PK: 24th (76.8%)

What to watch for

1. Injury woes on the blueline

The Sabres could certainly use some help on the blueline. They’re already missing Jake McCabe; Nathan Beaulieu left yesterday’s game with injury and didn’t return, so it’s unclear if he’ll be in the lineup tonight. Matt Tennyson was, well..... not good. Lawrence Pilut went on IR Sunday. Casey Nelson remains on IR.

That being said, it’s expected that Matt Hunwick will make his season debut today in Boston. Hunwick was recalled yesterday from his conditioning stint with the AHL’s Rochester Americans.

The Sabres also recalled Brendan Guhle ahead of Sunday’s game.

2. It’s (likely) Ullmark time

With Hutton playing last night in Washington, it’s likely that Linus Ullmark will get the nod in net for the Sabres this evening. The 25-year-old is 6-1-0-3 this season with a 3.03 GAA .912 save percentage.

3. Boston’s big guns

The Sabres won’t have to worry about Zdeno Chara or Patrice Bergeron in this evening’s game, but they will have to deal with David Pastrnak, who has 39 points in 21 games this season. Other notable names: Brad Marchand (33 points in 32 games) and David Krejci (27 points in 32 games).

Buffalo Sabres

Forwards

Jeff Skinner - Jack Eichel - Sam Reinhart

Conor Sheary - Casey Mittelstadt - Kyle Okposo

Zemgus Girgensons - Johan Larsson - Evan Rodrigues

Tage Thompson - Vladimir Sobotka - Jason Pominville

Defense

Rasmus Dahlin - Zach Bogosian

Marco Scandella - Rasmus Ristolainen

Brendan Guhle - Matt Tennyson (unconfirmed)

Starting Goaltender: Linus Ullmark (unconfirmed)

Boston Bruins

Forwards

Brad Marchand–David Krejci–David Pastrnak

Joakim Nordstrom–Colby Cave–David Backes

Ryan Donato–Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson–Danton Heinen

Sean Kuraly–Noel Acciari–Chris Wagner

Defense

Torey Krug–Brandon Carlo

Matt Grzelcyk–Charlie McAvoy

John Moore–Steven Kampfer

Starting Goaltender: Jaroslav Halak (unconfirmed)