Game #32
Buffalo Sabres (13-15-3) vs. Arizona Coyotes (14-13-2)
Puck Drop: 9:00 PM Mullett Arena Tempe, AZ
TV: MSG-B, SCRIPPS
Radio: WGR-550
Know Your Opponent
Arizona Coyotes
Record: 14-13-2
Division Ranking: 5th in the Central Division
Last Game: 1-0 win against the San Jose Sharks
PP: 10th (23.53%)
PK: 15th (80.00%)
What to Watch
1. Buffalo Has the Better Record Against the Hosts
The Sabres’ all-time record versus the Coyotes is 52-28-7, including from 1979-1996 when Arizona’s team was the original Winnipeg Jets. The Blue and Gold have had a relatively easy time beating the Coyotes in recent years, not losing to Arizona since Nov. 8, 2022. Buffalo last won against the Desert Dogs on Dec. 11, a 5-2 victory at KeyBank Center.
Arizona is one of those opponents the Sabres should handle, so let’s hope they do. After all, if Buffalo can defeat the defending Stanley Cup champions in Vegas, there’s no reason the team can’t prevail in Tempe.
2. Stay Out of the Box
The Arizona Coyotes are an NHL-10th in power play opportunities, scoring 24% of the time with the man advantage. By contrast, the Sabres are just 26th on the PP as of this writing, one of the league’s worst. In their last meeting on Dec. 11, Buffalo gave Arizona three man advantage chances.
While the Coyotes thankfully didn’t score on any of them, forward Michael Carcone did get the Desert Dogs’ second goal on a Sabres’ power play. Not only do the Blue and Gold struggle to score with the extra attacker, they’re weak on controlling the puck in a 5-on-4 and give up plenty of short-handed opportunities. Hopefully the visitors can stay out of the penalty box and not give up short-handed goals if they do get a PP chance.
3. Coyotes’ D Banged Up, Advantage Sabres
While Jeff Skinner is the latest Buffalo forward to be out on IR, Arizona is missing several defensemen, including Vladislav Kolyachonok, Sean Durzi and Shea Weber, in addition to center Travis Boyd.
That should help the visitors to outscore the home team, since the Sabres normally don’t have much trouble beating the Coyotes during recent games. With every point counting, Buffalo needs all the advantages it can get.
Projected Lineups
Buffalo Sabres
Forwards
Zach Benson – Tage Thompson – Alex Tuch
Casey Mittelstadt – Dylan Cozens – JJ Peterka
Brett Murray – Tyson Jost – Victor Olofsson
Eric Robinson – Peyton Krebs – Kyle Okposo
Defense
Rasmus Dahlin – Mattias Samuelsson
Owen Power – Henri Jokiharju
Ryan Johnson – Connor Clifton
Goaltenders
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (confirmed), Devon Levi, Eric Comrie
Arizona Coyotes
Forwards
Clayton Keller – Alex Kerfoot – Nick Schmaltz
Mattias Maccelli – Nick Bjugstad – Lawson Crouse
Michael Carcone – Logan Cooley – Jason Zucker
Liam O’Brien – Jack McBain – Zach Sanford
Defense
J.J. Moser – Mathew Dumba
Juuso Valimaki – Troy Stecher
Travis Dermott – Michael Kesselring
Goaltenders
Karel Vejmelka (confirmed), Connor Ingram
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