Game #64
Buffalo Sabres (27-33-6) vs. Utah Hockey Club (30-27-11)
Puck Drop: 9:00 PM EST | Delta Center | Salt Lake City, UT
TV: MSG–B
Radio: WGR 550
Know Your Opponent
Utah Hockey Club
Record: 30-27-11 | 71 PTS
Last Game: 7-1 Loss vs. Edmonton Oilers
Division Ranking: 6th in Central Division
PP: 22.9% (13th); Sabres: 17.9% (27th)
PK: 80.8% (13th); Sabres: 76.4% (23rd)
What to Watch
1. Road Trip Continues
On Monday night, Buffalo snapped an eight-game road losing streak against Boston. Tonight, they look to keep the momentum going with a late game in Utah to extend their current win streak to three. In their remaining regular season games – including tonight – the Sabres are away for nine of them. Their last two matchups have been close calls, too, with one win in a shootout and the other in overtime. Will they be able to earn a victory in regulation? The Sabres were defeated by the Club back in December at home (5-2), but it will be interesting to see the outcome of Buffalo’s first visit to Utah since the expansion.
2. Return of Peterka
JJ Peterka’s last game was on March 10th against the Oilers and he is expected to return to the lineup tonight following a “nagging” lower-body injury, as Lindy Ruff has called it. He should return to the top line alongside Tage Thompson and Alex Tuch, which will hopefully improve scoring and help the team bounce back from a rough few weeks (they are 3-6-1 in their last 10). Peterka has been somewhat inconsistent this season – going various stretches without points – but when he is on he is on. Will he be on tonight? In his third full year in the NHL, the forward is still on pace to surpass 20 goals for the second season in a row.
3. In McLeod We Trust
A pleasant surprise for fans this season has been the addition of Ryan McLeod. Is he the best, most talented player on the team? No, but the center has had a monumental year with Buffalo setting career highs in goals, assists, and points with 15, 22, and 37, respectively. With a point tonight, he could also match his career high point-streak.
On Monday, he skated a career-high in ice time with 23:57 and has become one of the fastest players in the league. With six points in his last six games, his offensive presence has been felt in the best ways. A breath of fresh air and simply fun to watch, McLeod has been a bright light during another dark season for the Sabres who are set to miss another playoff run as they continue to be a colossal disappointment for the 14th year in a row.
Projected Lineups
Buffalo Sabres
Forwards*
JJ Peterka – Tage Thompson – Alex Tuch
Zach Benson – Ryan McLeod – Jason Zucker
Jordan Greenway – Peyton Krebs – Jack Quinn
Beck Malenstyn – Tyson Kozak – Sam Lafferty
*Josh Norris is day-to-day with an injury and may rejoin the lineup soon.
Defense
Mattias Samuelsson – Rasmus Dahlin
Bowen Byram – Jacob Bryson
Owen Power – Connor Clifton
Goaltenders: Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (expected), James Reimer
Utah Hockey Club
Forwards
Clayton Keller – Logan Cooley – Nick Schmaltz
Alexander Kerfoot – Barrett Hayton – Dylan Guenther
Lawson Krouse – Jack McBain – Josh Doan
Michael Carcone – Kevin Stenlund – Nicholas Bjugstad
Defense
Mikhail Sergachev – John Marino
Ian Cole – Michael Kesselring
Olli Maatta – Sean Durzi
Goaltenders: Karel Vejmelka (expected), Jaxson Stauber