Game #58
Buffalo Sabres (26-27-4) vs. Carolina Hurricanes (34-18-5)
Puck Drop:6:00 PM EST | KeyBank Center | Buffalo, NY
TV: MSG-B
Radio: WGR-550
Know Your Opponent
Carolina Hurricanes
Record: 34-18-5
Last Game: 2-1 loss vs. Dallas Stars
Division Ranking: 2nd in the Metropolitan
PP: 3rd, 27.2%
PK: 3rd, 84.7%
What to Watch
1. EJ Returns, Power Possible
The latest word after today’s morning skate is that Erik Johnson, who missed the Sabres’ last game with illness, is back in the lineup. Owen Power also skated in a regular jersey, but hasn’t officially been cleared yet. He could return to the lineup tonight, or if not, should be ready on Tuesday. Say what you will about Erik Johnson, but Power’s return would certainly be a welcome one for a depleted Sabres’ defense.
2. Three in a Row?
The Sabres are looking to make it three wins in a row tonight, coming off victories over Montreal and Columbus. Carolina will undoutedbly be a formidable opponent, as they’ve had a great season so far, and won’t make it easy for Buffalo tonight. The good news, however, is that Carolina also played Saturday night, with an 8 PM puck drop against the Dallas Stars. With tonight’s game less than 24 hours later, perhaps there’s a tiredness factor that will play in.
The last time the Sabres won three in a row: April 6-10, 2023.
Meanwhile, the Hurricanes had a four-game winning streak prior to last night’s loss, and have won six of their last eight games and nine of their last 12 games.
3. Players to Watch
Carolina’s Sebastian Aho leads the team across the board with 22 goals, 39 assists and 61 points in just 54 games played. Seth Jarvis is four points shy of 50 on the season, while Martin Necas has 40 points, including 23 assists.
With Kochetkov in net last night in Dallas, Spencer Martin is expected to get the start tonight for the Canes. He’s played just three games this season for the Canes but has won all three, with a 2.00 GAA and .920 save percentage in that trio. Martin previously suited up for the Blue Jackets in 13 games earlier this season, with a 3.65 GAA and .887 save percentage in that stretch.
Martin will be matched at the other end by Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, who has a 2.48 GAA and .913 save percentage while bearing the brunt of the workload for Buffalo this season. Luukkonen has appeared in 33 games and has a 16-14-2 record that isn’t exactly indicative of his individual performances.
Projected Lineups
Buffalo Sabres
Forwards
Jeff Skinner – Tage Thompson – Alex Tuch
Jordan Greenway – Casey Mittlestadt – Dylan Cozens
Zach Benson – Peyton Krebs – JJ Peterka
Eric Robinson – Zemgus Girgensons – Kyle Okposo
Defense
Rasmus Dahlin – Henri Jokiharju
Jacob Bryson – Connor Clifton
Ryan Johnson – Erik Johnson
Owen Power?
Goaltenders
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (projected starter), Eric Comrie
Carolina Hurricanes
Forwards
Andrei Svechnikov – Sebastian Aho – Jesper Fast
Michael Bunting – Jack Drury – Martin Necas
Jordan Martinook – Jordan Staal – Seth Jarvis
Stefan Noesen – Jesper Kotkaniemi – Teuvo Teravainen
Defense
Jaccob Slavin – Brent Burns
Dmitry Orlov – Brett Pesce
Brady Skjei – Tony DeAngelo
Goaltenders
Spencer Martin (projected starter), Pyotr Kochetkov