Game #27
Buffalo Sabres (10-14-2) vs. Boston Bruins (17-4-3)
Puck Drop: 7:00 PM EST | TD Garden | Boston, MA
TV: MSG-B
Radio: WGR 550
Know Your Opponent
Boston Bruins
Record: 17-4-3 | 37 PTS
Division Ranking: 1st in Atlantic Division
Last Game: 3-1 win vs. Columbus Blue Jackets
PP: 11th (22.8%)
PK: 1st (89%)
What to Watch
1. The First Period Curse
The Sabres have been trending so far this season and not in a good way. As of late, they seem to be asleep during the first two periods of play – whether on home ice or away – and especially lethargic in the opening period. 2-0 has often been the deficit that they need to overcome early on, unfortunately, so hopefully they can put an end to this tired trend tonight.
Buffalo is currently on a four-game losing streak, 3-6-1 in their last 10, and showing no signs of improvement to defeated fans. They also have the second-most goals against in the Atlantic Division with 90(!), behind only Tampa, who has 94, respectively. For comparison, the Bruins have 59 goals against so far this season and their penalty kill is first in the league. In summary, it will be even harder for the Sabres to score tonight than in this last stretch of painful games.
2. Welcome?
General Manager Kevyn Adams added a forward to the roster yesterday when the Sabres acquired Eric Robinson from Columbus in exchange for a 2025 conditional seventh-round pick. The condition is that Robinson must play 45 NHL games this season. Brandon Biro was then sent back to Rochester, and it is assumed Robinson will take his place in the roster tonight.
The 28-year-old winger played 266 games with the Blue Jackets, during which he tallied 38 goals and 44 assists. This season, he recorded one goal with Columbus, so it sounds like he will fit in perfectly with the Sabres’ offense.
3. Boston Marathon
Any time the Sabres are set to face the Bruins, it feels like a marathon that is never rewarding or finished. Tonight will likely feel like that again as their struggles continue. Making matters worse (could they honestly get any worse at this point?) is Boston having several days off to rest this week. Their last game was on Sunday, which resulted in a victory – their third in a row.
Despite significant changes in the offseason – with the retirement of power forwards Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci – Boston is still one of the best teams in the league. New captain, but longtime pest Brad Marchand has also been an unstoppable force. In Sunday’s game, he recorded a natural hat trick to bring his team the victory at home. He also made history as the third-fastest player since 1954 in Bruins history to begin a period with a hatty. Best of luck to the Sabres’ defense.
In other news, this is defenseman Connor Clifton’s first game back at TD Garden without a Bruins jersey on his back. It might be interesting to see if that ignites a defensive spark that Buffalo so desperately needs.
Projected Lineups
Buffalo Sabres
Forwards
Jeff Skinner – Casey Mittelstadt – Tage Thompson
Zach Benson – Dylan Cozens – JJ Peterka
Tyson Jost – Peyton Krebs – Kyle Okposo
Isak Rosen – Eric Robinson* – Victor Olofsson
*Robinson was plugged into Brandon Biro’s spot here, though he is a winger, so the bottom two lines may shake out differently.
Defense**
Owen Power – Mattias Samuelsson
Jacob Bryson – Henri Jokiharju
Ryan Johnson – Erik Johnson/Connor Clifton
**Rasmus Dahlin has a lower-body injury, but will still make the trip to Boston. These pairings may change.
Goaltenders***: Devon Levi (likely starter), Eric Comrie
***Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen will not make the trip to Boston due to a day-to-day illness. Levi has been called up from Rochester.
Boston Bruins
Forwards
Jake DeBrusk – Pavel Zacha – David Pastrnak
Brad Marchand – Charlie Coyle – Morgan Geekie
James van Riemsdyk – Matthew Poitras – Trent Frederic
Jakub Lauko – John Beecher – Oskar Steen
Defense
Matt Grzelcyk – Charlie McAvoy
Hampus Lindholm – Brandon Carlo
Mason Lohrei – Kevin Shattenkirk
Goaltenders: Linus Ullmark (likely starter), Jeremy Swayman
Looking for some Sabres-themed gifts this holiday season? Buy some merch!