Game 66
Detroit Red Wings (33-25-6) vs. Buffalo Sabres (30-30-5)
Puck Drop: 7:00 PM ET KeyBank Center, Buffalo, NY
TV: MSG-B, BSDET
Radio: WGR-550
Know Your Opponent
Detroit Red Wings
Record: 33-25-6
Last Game: 5-3 Loss to the Las Vegas Golden Knights
Division Ranking: 5th in the Atlantic Division
PP Ranking: 23.01% (10th)
PK Ranking: 80.30% (12th)
What to Watch
1) Can Buffalo Extend Detroit’s Losing Streak?
The Detroit Red Wings lost five of their last games and haven’t won a matchup since Feb. 27. It’s the Sabres’ job to make it six in a row, something that’s not guaranteed.
The Wings beat the Sabres the last time these two teams met at KeyBank Center on Dec. 5, 2023. However, Buffalo defeated Detroit the previous four contests, both at home and away. The hosts can do it again, if they summon the discipline and effort to play 60 minutes of hockey on offense and defense.
2) Dahlin and Byram on Sabres’ Top D-Line
Head coach Don Granato recently decided to pair new Buffalo defenseman Bowen Byram with veteran D-man Rasmus Dahlin on the Sabres’ first defensive line. Granato pointed out that both players initiate movement on offense and it’ll be fun to watch them play together.
Byram did score one of Buffalo’s two goals in the loss to Nashville, while fans are familiar with Dahlin’s aggressive action in opponents’ zones. Maybe the coach is onto something, but Sabres’ supporters will need to see how they mesh together in a few games to know if it’s the right move.
3) Offense Needs to Step Up
Speaking of offense, the Blue and Gold’s forwards have to get more pucks into the net. As of this writing, Jeff Skinner and JJ Peterka tie the Sabres’ season goal scoring record with 20 each. Tage Thompson is second with 19, Alex Tuch has 17 and Dahlin enjoys one more than recently traded center Casey Mittelstadt.
It’s quite a contrast from last season, when TNT was knocking on 50 before his late-season injury and Skinner and Tuch both finished the year well into the 30s. If Buffalo wants to end 2023-24 on a high note, the team’s top forwards seriously need to improve their offensive production.
Projected Lineups
Buffalo Sabres
Forwards*
Zemgus Girgensons – Tage Thompson – Alex Tuch
Jordan Greenway* – Dylan Cozens – Zach Benson
Jeff Skinner – Peyton Krebs – JJ Peterka
Eric Robinson – Tyson Jost – Victor Olofsson
*Jordan Greenway will be a game-time decision
Defense
Rasmus Dahlin – Bowen Byram
Owen Power – Henri Jokiharju
Jacob Bryson – Connor Clifton
Goaltenders
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (likely starter), Eric Comrie
Detroit Red Wings
Forwards
Alex DeBrincat – J.T. Compher – Patrick Kane
Jonatan Berggren – Joe Veleno – Lucas Raymond
Michael Rasmussen – Andrew Copp – David Perron
Robby Fabbri – Christian Fischer – Daniel Sprong
Defense
Ben Chariot – Moritz Seider
Olli Maatta – Jeff Petry
Shayne Gostisbehere – Justin Holl
Goaltenders
Alex Lyon (likely starter), Ville Husso, James Reimer
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