Buffalo face a tough opponent in Pittsburgh
Buffalo Sabres (36-19-6) vs Pittsburgh Penguins (31-16-13)
Puck Drop: 7:00 pm ET | PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh PA
TV: ESPN, SN, TVAS
Radio: WGR 550, Sirius XM (app)
Know Your Opponent
Pittsburgh Penguins
Record: 31-16-13 | 75 PTS
Last Game: 2-1 loss against Boston Bruins; 6-2-2 in last ten games
Division Ranking: 2nd, Metropolitan
PP: 3rd, 26.1% (42/161) [Sabres: 17th, 19.9% (36/181)]
PK: 2nd, 84.6% (148/175) [Sabres: 6th, 82.9% (136/164)]
What to Watch
1. Bogey Man/Team
The Pens always seem to have Buffalo’s number, including both games this season and a measly 3-5-2 record for the Sabres in their last ten match-ups. This goes way back too, and the only thing that makes sense is the Sidney Crosby effect – 64 GP (44-15-5), 30 G, 56 A, 86 PTS (that’s Tom Brady vs the Bills levels). Even when #87 is not the one killing us, someone somewhere (some rookie playing his first game scoring his first two NHL goals, and hasn’t scored again in five games since then) always gets us, you know what I mean?
That effect seemed to have carried on to the United States men’s team playing against Canada too, but guess who was missing in the gold medal game when the Stars and Stripes finally prevailed? Guess what, he’ll be missing tonight too.
2. Strong Special Teams
Pittsburgh’s somewhat surprising playoff march has been solidly based on their special teams play. They are the third best team in the league with the man advantage, and second best when a man short. Best to stay out of the box against these guys.
3. Avoid Distractions
Buffalo are heavily involved in the trade deadline rumour mill, particularly with the St Louis Blues with center Robert Thomas and defenseman Colton Parayko. The latter will not waive his NTC and the former we don’t know where the two teams netted out on that one.
What the players on the ice cannot do though is get distracted by what the front office is doing to better the team. They need to keep their focus on winning games and racking up points first and foremost. Most indications have been that the GM is reluctant to mess with team chemistry which should encourage the players that none of them are on the chopping block.
Projected Lineups
Buffalo Sabres
Forwards
Peyton Krebs – Tage Thompson – Alex Tuch
Jason Zucker – Ryan McLeod – Jack Quinn
Noah Ostlund – Josh Norris – Josh Doan
Zach Benson – Josh Dunne – Beck Malenstyn
Defense
Mattias Samuelsson – Rasmus Dahlin
Bowen Byram – Owen Power
Zach Metsa – Michael Kesselring
Goaltenders
Alex Lyon, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (projected starter)
Pittsburgh Penguins
Forwards
Egor Chinakhov – Tommy Novak – Evgeni Malkin
Avery Hayes – Rickard Rakell – Bryan Rust
Anthony Mantha – Ben Kindel – Justin Brazeau
Connor Dewar – Blake Lizotte – Noel Acciari
Defense
Parker Wotherspoon – Erik Karlsson
Samuel Girard – Kris Letang
Ryan Shea – Connor Clifton
Goaltenders
Stuart Skinner, Arturs Silovs (confirmed starter)