Game #62
Winnipeg Jets (38-16-5) vs. Buffalo Sabres (29-28-4)
Puck Drop: 7:00 PM EST | KeyBank Center | Buffalo, NY
TV: MSG-B
Radio: WGR 550
Know Your Opponent
Winnipeg Jets
Record: 38-16-5 | 81 PTS
Last Game: 5-3 Win vs. Carolina Hurricanes
Division Ranking: 2nd in Central Division
PP: 18.4% (22nd)
PK: 77.8% (23rd)
What to Watch
1. Keep it Going
This has been a tough season for Sabres fans, who, until recently, probably wrote off this entire franchise for eternity. However, things have become a little more interesting in the last few games and the team has actually become fun to watch (is anyone getting deja vu from last season?). Last night was electric as Buffalo embarrassed the Golden Knights with a 7-2 victory, making that a solid sweep in their series against the defending Stanley Cup champions. Six different players scored and goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen continued to shine with his impressive play.
More good news is that Buffalo has seen some improvements in their power play recently. As of yesterday morning, they were six for 18 with the man advantage with head coach Don Granato giving a lot of credit to forwards Jordan Greenway and Kyle Okposo on the improvement – specifically in front of the net.
During their matchup against Vegas, the Sabres managed a power play goal by Casey Mittelstadt and two shorthanded goals by Dylan Cozens (who, until recently, has been incredibly disappointing offensively). Cozens is now the seventh player in Sabres’ history to tally two or more shorthanded goals in a single game and the first since Brandon Montour in 2021. Jeff Skinner and Owen Power also managed three points each last night – it will be interesting to see what they can produce tonight.
In summary, this matchup against Winnipeg will be the perfect opportunity for the Sabres to maintain this recent momentum (5-1-0 in their last six!) that they have gained and try to defeat another great team and, by some miracle, squeak into the playoffs.
2. Change in Net?
Luukkonen has been a workhorse in between the pipes for Buffalo, especially in 2024, and perhaps the one beacon of hope for fans who have all but given up on the Sabres ever being a playoff-caliber team in the next few years. However, there has been talk of backup Eric Comrie getting the nod tonight, which would be his first start since February 15 against the Panthers.
In his last game, Comrie stopped 26 of 30 shots, but his team came up short in the offense category, failing to score at all and leaving the ice with an ugly 4-0 loss. Let’s hope tonight plays out differently. Before February, he had not started a game since early December, so he may have to brush off a little dust tonight if he gets the start.
If UPL is in net (which, who would blame Granato if that’s the choice?), it would certainly help the Sabres’ chances of snagging another win. He has been a big part of his team’s recent success, helping Buffalo allow the fewest goals in the NHL since the New Year. Against the Jets, UPL has a 2.53 goals against average.
3. Just Something Silly…
In the midst of trade rumors, Zemgus Girgensons remains the only forward on the team to have not recorded a single assist this season. It is almost comical when compared to the forward with the most assists on the team: Casey Mittelstadt, with 33. Will tonight be the night the Latvian center finally gets an assist? Perhaps his last one in a Sabres jersey? Time will tell.
Projected Lineups
Buffalo Sabres
Forwards
Jordan Greenway – Tage Thompson – Alex Tuch
Jeff Skinner – Casey Mittelstadt – Kyle Okposo
Zach Benson – Dylan Cozens – JJ Peterka
Zemgus Girgensons – Peyton Krebs – Eric Robinson
Defense*
Rasmus Dahlin – Henri Jokiharju
Owen Power – Jacob Bryson
Ryan Johnson – Connor Clifton
*Erik Johnson is day-to-day with an illness.
Goaltenders: Eric Comrie (likely starter), Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
Winnipeg Jets
Forwards*
Kyle Connor – Mark Scheifele – Vladislav Namestnikov
Nikolaj Ehlers – Sean Monahan – Alex Iafallo
Nino Niederreiter – Adam Lowry – Mason Appleton
Morgan Barron – David Gustaffson – Rasmus Kupari
*Gabriel Vilardi has an upper body injury
Defense**
Josh Morrissey – Dylan Demelo
Dylan Samberg – Neal Pionk
Logan Stanley – Nate Schmidt
**Brenden Dillon did not play yesterday against Carolina due to an illness.
Goaltenders: Laurent Brossoit (confirmed starter), Connor Hellebuyck
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