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Game 15 Preview & Open Thread: Sabres vs. Flames

Mar 24, 2024; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Buffalo Sabres right wing Alex Tuch (89) battles for the puck with Calgary Flames defenseman MacKenzie Weegar (52) and defenseman Daniil Miromanov (62) during the third period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports

Game #15

Buffalo Sabres (6-7-1) vs. Calgary Flames (7-5-2)

Puck Drop: 1:00 PM EDT | KeyBank Center

TV: MSG-B, ESPN+

Know Your Opponent

Calgary Flames

Record: 7-5-2 | 16 PTS

Last Game: 4-3 overtime loss at the Bruins

Division Ranking: 4th, Pacific

PP: 21st, 17.1% (7/41 opps) [Sabres: 28th, 14.0% (6/43 opps)]

PK: 27th, 73.3% (33/45 killed) [Sabres: 21st, 76.1% (35/46 killed)]

What to Watch

1. Don’t Do It Lindy

Never has the adage “don’t change a winning team” been more apt than now. Sitting Mattias Samuelsson and Henri Jokiharju was ballsy, but characteristic of a veteran coach not afraid to send a message to jolt his team.

Two big wins later, there’s no reason to change a thing. The starting goalie is hot having given up just four goals in the last three games. Another three games beckon next week, all against teams .500 or below so Levi can probably get reintroduced later.

The top line is absolutely dominating play right now, the third line remains an asset with the trio of Jordan Greenway, Ryan McLeod and Jason Zucker playing strong physical hockey and getting goals too. Zach Benson looks to have sparked Dylan Cozens, and more importantly Jack Quinn.

The power play is finally showing some life, with 6 goals in the last 21 attempts – the 28.6% clip is top five pace, by the way. The penalty kill is at 80% for the last 25 times shorthanded, and one shortie in there for fun too.

Dennis Gilbert has been steady in his two games, and averages a 17.58 hits/60, slightly higher than Beck Malenstyn, but a much smaller sample size. Jacob Bryson has been solid next to Owen Power and Bowen Byram appears unlocked in the top pairing with captain Rasmus Dahlin.

The benched players will have to show in practice that they are willing to fight for their spots, and until then don’t change a damn thing. Right now, just keep the momentum going in what should be a fun and raucous afternoon at the KBC.

2. Flickering Flames?

It has been a gruelling road trip for the West Coasters. They played twice at home last Friday and Sunday, hopped on a plane and then beat the Montreal Canadiens in overtime Tuesday, lost to the Boston Bruins in overtime again on Thursday and now play in Buffalo, on Saturday afternoon. If that was our team we’d have been yelling pretty loudly about how challenging a schedule that is physically, never mind the quality of opponent.

The Flames are above .500 but just 2-3-1 in their last six games and haven’t scored more than three goals in any of those games. The stage is set for the Sabres to lay a goose egg like they have so often done against a team they expect to be tired. Your move Buffalo.

3. Hooooooooldddddd!

The last decade and a half has forged a certain kind of resilience in the hearts of Sabres fans. We’ve gotten used to crushing heartbreak even when it looked like finally we were turning a corner. And oh boy have there been corners, so many corners, yet the playoffs remain elusive.

Two mostly-impressive wins over relevant opponents is helping us crawl out of a self-made hole very early in the season. The underlying metrics are not all that great, but the team is playing with heart and like they care. There is reason to feel positive, even though we know that could get crushed just like the frost nips the late-fall fruit.

Still, choose to be optimistic about the season. It’s why they still play, and why we still watch. It’s been said in the comments often, ‘cautious optimism’.


Projected Lineups

Buffalo Sabres

Forwards

JJ Peterka – Tage Thompson – Alex Tuch
Zach Benson – Dylan Cozens – Jack Quinn
Jordan Greenway – Ryan McLeod – Jason Zucker
Beck Malenstyn – Peyton Krebs – Sam Lafferty

Defense

Rasmus Dahlin – Bowen Byram
Owen Power – Jacob Bryson
Dennis Gilbert – Connor Clifton

Goalies: Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (projected starter), Devon Levi

Calgary Flames

Forwards

Connor Zary – Nazem Kadri – Andrei Kuzmenko
Blake Coleman – Mikael Backlund – Matt Coronato
Jonathan Huberdeau – Yegor Sharangovich – Martin Pospisil
Ryan Lomberg – Kevin Rooney – Justin Kirkland

Defense

Kevin Bahl – Rasmus Andersson
MacKenzie Weegar – Daniil Miromanov
Tyson Barrie – Brayden Pachal

Goalies: Dustin Wolf (projected starter), Daniel Vladar

Talking Points