Carolina Hurricanes (9-4-0) vs Buffalo Sabres (5-5-4)
Puck Drop: 7:00 PM | Lenovo Center| Raleigh, North Carolina
TV: MSG-B
Radio: WGR 550
Know Your Opponent
Carolina Hurricanes
Record: 9-4-0 | 18 PTS
Division Ranking: 3rd in Metropolitan Division
Last Game: 4-3 Win vs Minnesota
PP: 32nd (10.8%) | Sabres Rank: 20th (17.8%)
PK: 12th (82.6%) | Sabres Rank: 1st (91.3%)
What to Watch
1. Bigger than Hockey
After practice yesterday, Lindy Ruff had announced that Rasmus Dahlin will be taking a temporary leave of absence from the team to be with his fiancée in Sweden. She has been recovering from an emergency heart transplant this past summer. Ruff did not provide details but mentioned that Dahlin said “everything is ok.” There is no timetable for his return, but he has the full support of the organization, fans, and the entire hockey community. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Dahlin family as he does the right thing and puts his family first.
2. Unfriendly Confines
It has felt like 84 years since Buffalo won a road game against the Hurricanes. In reality, it has only been 8 and a half years. Their last victory in Raleigh was on March 22nd of 2016. Jack Eichel was finishing his rookie season and Brian Gionta was the captain. In that game, Carlo Colaiacovo opened the scoring with assists from Mark Pysyk and Markus Foligno. The Hurricanes have been a consistent contender in the East for years and they are particularly good at home. They were 31-9-1 at home last year and are 4-1-0 so far this year. Buffalo has a tall task ahead of them, and it starts with getting the first goal to diffuse some of the crowd impact.
3. Grind it Out
The Sabres have stitched their lineup together with tape and glue. It’s the kind of lineup you would expect to see in a preseason game when younger players are often given extended looks. The injuries have made a tough matchup even more difficult. The weakened side is about to go against a Carolina team that has given up only 34 goals against. This ties them with three other teams for second fewest surrendered in the league. Look for Buffalo to simplify their game and try to score some dirty goals in front. With missing some vital offensive talent from the lineup, their best hope is to pull an Islanders: drag the game into the mud and try to win the scrambles in front. It may not be pleasant on the eyes, but it could help secure a point or two.
Projected Lineups
Buffalo Sabres
Forwards
Rosen – Ostlund – Thompson
Doan – McLeod – Tuch
Greenway – Kozak – Quinn
Dunne – Krebs – Malenstyn
Defense
Power – Timmins
Samuelsson – Kesselring
Byram – Bryson
Starter: Lyon
Carolina Hurricanes
Forwards
Svechnikov – Aho – Jarvis
Ehlers – Stankoven – Blake
Hall – Staal – Martinook
Carrier – Kotkaniemi – Jankowski
Defense
Nikishin – Walker
Miller – Nystrom
Reilly – Legault
Starter: Kochetkov