Game #22
Minnesota Wild (13-4-4) vs. Buffalo Sabres (11-9-1)
Puck Drop: 7:00 PM, KeyBank Center
TV: MSG-B
Radio: WGR 550
Know Your Opponent
Minnesota Wild
Record: 13-4-4, 30 pts.
Last Game: 4-1 loss to the Winnipeg Jets
Division Ranking: 2nd in the Central Division
PP Ranking: 17th (19.67%)
PK Ranking: 27th (73.47%)
What to Watch
1. Can the Sabres Win Four in a Row?
The Buffalo Sabres swept their California road trip opponents, beating the L.A. Kings, Anaheim Ducks and San Jose Sharks in succession to fly back home with six points. Now the Blue and Gold face a Minnesota Wild team that’s second in their division but lost their previous two matchups to the Calgary Flames and Winnipeg Jets, respectively.
The Blue and Gold haven’t won more than three games in a row since Jan. 26, 2023, when they defeated the Jets for their fifth straight victory. If Buffalo wants to keep this positive momentum going, the hosts will have to keep playing disciplined hockey for three periods, something head coach Lindy Ruff seems to be drilling into the roster.
2. Buffalo and Minnesota Almost Even, Sabres Better Recently
The Sabres and the Wild enjoy a nearly even overall record, with Buffalo 16-15 against Minnesota since 2000. However, the Sabres won their last two contests against the Wild, beating them both at home and on the road. Minnesota hasn’t defeated Buffalo since Jan. 28, 2023 and the Blue and Gold haven’t lost to the Wild at KeyBank Center since Nov. 19, 2019. Fans hope the home team can do it again on Thanksgiving Eve. If the Sabres keep playing the way they have, they’ll send their supporters home happy.
3. Tage Thompson’s Return
After being out since Nov. 11 after he suffered an injury early in the matchup vs. the Montreal Canadiens, Sabres’ center Tage Thompson is ready to play against the Wild in this coming game. The Sabres have missed TNT since Veterans Day, with center Ryan McCleod normally filling in for the injured forward.
The Blue and Gold have won more than they’ve lost recently, but Buffalo needs the top-scoring Thompson back in the lineup. No. 72 was on a hot streak before he got hurt, scoring a goal in four of his last five games. It’ll be great to see TNT return to the ice, hopefully blowing things up offensively.
Projected Lineups
Buffalo Sabres
Forwards
JJ Peterka – Tage Thompson – Alex Tuch
Zach Benson – Dylan Cozens – Peyton Krebs
Jason Zucker – Jiri Kulich – Jack Quinn
Beck Malenstyn – Ryan McCleod – Sam Lafferty
Defense
Rasmus Dahlin – Bowen Byram
Owen Power – Henri Jokiharju
Jacob Bryson – Connor Clifton
Goaltenders
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (likely starter), James Reimer
Minnesota Wild
Forwards
Kirill Kaprizov – Joel Ericksson Ek – Matt Boldy
Marcus Johansson – Marco Rossi – Ryan Hartman
Marcus Foligno – Frederick Gaudreau – Yakov Trennin
Jakub Lauko – Ben Jones – Devin Shore
Defense
Jacob Middleton – Brock Faber
Jonas Brodin – Jared Spurgeon
Declan Chisolm – Zacj Bogosian
Goaltenders
Filip Gustavsson (confirmed starter), Marc-Andre Fleury