Buffalo Sabres (11-17-4) vs. Boston Bruins (17-13-4)
Puck Drop: 7:00 PM EST | TD Garden | Boston, MA
TV: MSG
Know Your Opponent
Boston Bruins
Record: 17-13-4 | 38 PTS
Last Game: 3-2 loss to Boston (Dec. 19)
Division Ranking: 4th in Atlantic
PP: 12.7% (Sabres: 13.5%)
PK: 77.9% (Sabres: 77.1%)
What to Watch
1. On The Road
The Bruins have fared well on home ice this season, going 9-6-2 at TD Garden. On the flip side, the Sabres are 5-8-1 on the road. Boston has won their last three games on home ice and return there after a five-game road trip that saw them hit Western Canada. The Sabres’ last win, in general, came on the road – but it was way back on November 23. All that to say, this certainly won’t be an easy game for the team that’s currently on a 12-game losing streak.
The Bruins are led by David Pastrnak (12-21-33 in 34 GP) and Brad Marchand (13-13-26 in 34 GP).
2. Still Streaking
As the Sabres attempt to end a 12-game losing streak, here’s a quick look at the numbers in this stretch:
- 12 consecutive losses since November 27
- Outscored 50-27
- 2 power-play goals (Thompson, Quinn) – 6.1%
- 69.4% PK
- Averaging 27.9 shots per game
- Averaging 48.7% in the faceoff dot
- Goals by period (BUF): 14-7-6
- Goals against by period: 11-20-17-2 (OT)
- Have scored first in 7/12 games
3. Special Teams
I don’t expect a whole lot on special teams in this game. The numbers are listed above, but in case you skimmed past them: the Sabres and Bruins have the 30th and 31st power plays in the league. Buffalo has scored 13 times on 94 opportunities, while Boston has scored 15 times on 118 opportunities. The penalty kills are mildly beter, but also still pretty even – 21st (BOS) and 22nd (BUF) in the league. The Bruins have been shorthanded 113 times this season, third-most in the NHL, while the Sabres have been shorthanded 106 times (6th-most).
Projected Lineups
Buffalo Sabres
Forwards
Jason Zucker – Tage Thompson – Alex Tuch
JJ Peterka – Dylan Cozens – Jack Quinn
Zach Benson – Jiri Kulich – Peyton Krebs
Beck Malenstyn – Ryan McLeod – Sam Lafferty
Defense
Rasmus Dahlin – Bowen Byram
Mattias Samuelsson – Owen Power
Dennis Gilbert – Connor Clifton
Goalies: Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (projected starter), James Reimer
(Lindy Ruff is expected to speak to media at 4:50 p.m. on Saturday. We’ll see what lineup changes could be on the horizon to shake things up tonight.)
Boston Bruins
Forwards
Morgan Geekie – Pavel Zacha – David Pastrnak
Brad Marchand – Elias Lindholm – Justin Brazeau
Trent Frederic – Charlie Coyle – Oliver Wahlstrom
Marc McLaughlin – John Beecher – Mark Kastelic
Defense
Nikita Zadorov – Charlie McAvoy
Jordan Oesterle – Brandon Carlo
Mason Lohrei – Andrew Peeke
Goalies: Jeremy Swayman, Joonas Korpisalo