Preview: The Champ is here
The Sabres host the Blues tonight in Buffalo
Game 32
Buffalo Sabres (14-11-6) vs. St. Louis Blues (18-7-6)
Puck Drop: 7:30 PM EST | KeyBank Center | Buffalo, NY
TV: NBCSN
Radio: WGR 550
SB Nation Blues Blog: St. Louis Game Time
Know Your Opponent
St. Louis Blues
Record: (18-7-6) | 42 PTS
Last 10: 6-3-1
Division Ranking: 1st in Central Division
Conference Ranking: 1st in Western Conference
PP: 7th (22.7%)
PK: 11th (83.1%)
What to Watch
1. Lineup Changes
Ralph Krueger will be mixing up the lineup again tonight. It appears as though Conor Sheary and Marco Scandella will be the healthy scratches. Both Jake McCabe and Casey Mittlestadt will return after sitting on Sunday against the Edmonton Oilers.
2. Jake Allen
The Sabres get a small break tonight in that they won’t have to face Jordan Binnington. Instead, Jake Allen will be between the pipes for the Sabres. Last year in Buffalo the Sabres picked up a shootout win over Allen and the Blues. Allen has played well as of late going 4-0-2 in his last six starts.
3. Chance at Redemption
Mittelstadt will get a chance to make an impact tonight. After being a healthy scratch on Sunday, he’ll be on a line with Jeff Skinner and Evan Rodrigues if the lines from the morning skate hold up. We’ll see if he can take advantage of the opportunity.
Game Prediction
Projected Lineups
Buffalo Sabres
Forwards
Victor Olofsson - Jack Eichel - Sam Reinhart
Jimmy Vesey - Marcus Johansson - Rasmus Asplund
Jeff Skinner - Casey Mittelstadt - Evan Rodrigues
Zemgus Girgensons - Johan Larsson - Kyle Okposo
Defense
Brandon Montour - Rasmus Ristolainen
Jake McCabe - Zach Bogosian
Colin Miller - Henri Jokiharju
Starting Goaltender: Linus Ullmark
St. Louis Blues
Forwards
David Perron - Ryan O’Reilly - Tyler Bozak
Jaden Schwartz - Brayden Schenn - Jordan Kyrou
Ivan Barbashev - Rob Thomas - Troy Brouwer
Mackenzie MaCeachern - Jacob de La Rose - Austin Poganski
Defense
Colton Parayko - Alex Pietrangelo
Jay Bouwmeester - Justin Faulk
Vince Dunn - Robert Bortuzzo
Starting Goaltender: Jake Allen