Game #10
Philadelphia Flyers (4-4-1) vs. Buffalo Sabres (4-5-0)
Puck Drop: 7:00 PM EST | Wells Fargo Center | Philadelphia PA
TV: TNT
Radio: WGR-550
Know Your Opponent
Philadelphia Flyers
Record: 4-4-1
Last Game: 3-2 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes
Division Ranking: 6th, Metropolitan
PP: T-23rd, 12.5%
PK: 17th, 76%
What to Watch
1. The Big Guns
A large reason for a slow start to the season for the Sabres was a lack of production from the big-time producers from the season before. However, there has been a change of pace in their play, particularly in the last 3 games. During those games, Thompson scored 5 points, Skinner scored 5 points, Tuch scored 4 points, and Dahlin scored 3 points. These levels of production are what the Sabres need to move from an up-and-coming team to a contending roster.
Last year, their production was never in question. Game after game, the “big guns” came to play and carried the young Sabres roster to many wins that they perhaps did not deserve. While their performance this season does not deserve a complete lack of faith, a little bit of anxiety about whether they will remain consistent all season is reasonable.
Against a weak Flyers defense, the “big guns” have a chance to solidify the confidence of the Sabres faithful with a high-offense performance.
2. UPL’s Crease?
It became very clear that at the beginning of the season, Luukkonen had been surpassed by Levi on the depth chart and was no longer considered the goaltender of the future. Since taking over the crease with the injuries of Comrie and Levi, UPL has done a good enough job to get wins in 2 of his 3 starts. With Levi potentially coming back in the near future, can UPL make it a difficult decision for Granato and the management?
With a statement performance of 23 saves and a shutout against the high-powered Colorado Avalanche, UPL seems to be hitting his stride at a time when the Sabres are desperate for solid goaltending to prevent falling behind in an aggressively competitive Atlantic Division. For a team that is looking to get back to 0.500, UPL will be a significant contributor.
3. Taking Advantage of the Opponent
The Sabres are 4-5-0 to start the season. Based on the expectations to start the season, this is evidently not where the players, coaches, and management expected to be. While the Sabres have not had the easiest schedule to start the season (6 of their 9 opponents made the playoffs last year & 7 of their 2 opponents have winning records this season), they have certainly had opportunities to be above .500.
With an opponent like Philly, who, although had a strong start to the season, is being brought back down to earth with 2 consecutive losses and a roster that is not suited for many wins, the Sabres have to take advantage. They have the opportunity to push for a big win and make a statement that, regardless of a lacklustre start to the season, Buffalo is the team that everyone expected them to be.
Projected Lineups
Buffalo Sabres
Forwards
Jordan Greenway – Tage Thompson – Brandon Biro
Jeff Skinner – Casey Mittelstadt – JJ Peterka
Victor Olofsson – Dylan Cozens – Alex Tuch
Zemgus Girgensons – Peyton Krebs – Kyle Okposo
Defense
Rasmus Dahlin – Mattias Samuelsson
Owen Power – Henri Jokiharju
Erik Johnson – Jacob Bryson
Goaltenders
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen – Devon Levi
Philadelphia Flyers
Forwards
Owen Tippett – Sean Couturier – Cam Atkinson
Travis Konecny – Morgan Frost – Tyson Foerster
Joel Farabee – Noah Cates – Bobby Brink
Nicolas Deslauriers – Scott Laughton – Garnet Hathaway
Defense
Travis Sanheim – Cam York
Egor Zamula – Sean Walker
Nick Seeler – Louis Belpedio
Goaltenders
Carter Hart – Samuel Ersson