Buffalo Sabres (20-14-4) at Dallas Stars (25-7-7)
Puck Drop: 8:00 PM | American Airlines Center | Dallas, Texas
TV: MSG-B
Radio: WGR 550
Know Your Opponent
Dallas Stars
Record: 25-7-7 | 57 PTS
Division Ranking: 2nd in Central Division
Last Game: 4-3 Shootout Loss vs Blackhawks
PP: 2nd (30.6%) | Sabres Rank: 16th (19.1%)
PK: 7th (82.9%) | Sabres Rank: 3rd (84.8%)
What to Watch
1. We Want 10
The Sabres have a chance to close out the calendar year by tying a franchise record with their 10th straight victory. This would be the 4th time in team history they have reached that mark. The other times occurred in the 1983-84, 2006-07, and 2018-2019 seasons. The roster is as healthy as it’s been all year, and they are finding different ways to win. Even on nights where their top guys might not have it, their depth has picked up the slack. The Stars pose a significant threat to preserving the streak, but this team has shown they can battle through adversity and become better as a result.
2. Western Powerhouse
The Stars are having a great season. They would be leading any division in the league except for the one they’re in due to Colorado’s insane 29-2-7 record this year. They are 6 points ahead of Carolina who currently leads the East. They are a well-balanced team that is second in the NHL in goals for and 4th in goals against. They have a few strengths Buffalo must look out for. The dynamic due of Rantanen and Robertson will need a full team effort to slow down. Rantanen leads the team in assists (39) and points (54) in 38 games while Robertson leads them in goals with 23 in 39 games. Their powerplay is especially deadly. The Sabres need to stay out of the box to prevent the 2nd best unit in the NHL from costing them. If they do take a penalty, they need to watch for Wyatt Johnston who leads the league with 14 powerplay goals. Buffalo has their work cut out for them tonight.
3. American Sniper
The Sabres top forward received some exciting news this afternoon. Tage Thompson was named to the US Olympic roster. After being left off the 4 Nations roster, Thompson did everything he could to prove he belongs in the Olympics. He scored the golden goal at the World Championships this Spring after a dominant tournament. This season, he is on a 39-goal pace and has had two 6 game goal streaks. USA Hockey concluded that they needed his firepower on the roster. Look for Tage to have an extra spring in his step as he tries to prove that decision to be the right one.
Projected Lineups
Buffalo Sabres
Forwards
Krebs – Thompson – Doan
Ostlund – Norris – Tuch
Benson – McLeod – Quinn
Greenway – Dunne – Malenstyn
Defense
Samuelsson – Dahlin
Power – Kesselring
Byram – Metsa
Starter: Luukkonen
Dallas Stars
Forwards
Steel – Johnston – Rantanen
Robertson – Hintz – Bourque
Hryckowian – Duchene – Benn
Back – Faksa – Blackwell
Defense
Lindell – Heiskanen
Harley – Lundkvist
Lyubushkin – Petrovic
Starter: Oettinger