Buffalo Sabres (27-35-6) vs. Winnipeg Jets (48-18-4)
Puck Drop: 3:00 PM EDT | Canada Life Centre | Winnipeg, MB
TV: MSG-B
Radio: WGR 550
Know Your Opponent
Winnipeg Jets
Record: 48-18-4 | 100 PTS
Division Ranking: 1st in the Central
Last Game: 4-3 win over Edmonton
PP: 30.0% (1st) – (Sabres 17.8%, 26th)
PK: 79.0% (15th) – (Sabres 77.1%, 19th)
What To Watch
1. Next Stop: Playoffs
For the Jets, that is.
If Winnipeg gets at least one point in this afternoon’s game against the Sabres, they’ll clinch their spot in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. They can also clinch if the Blues lose to the Predators in any fashion, regardless of the outcome of the game against Buffalo.
Last week, Winnipeg became the second team in the league to reach the 100-point mark. Today’s game opens a four-game homestand, and they’ve certainly done well on home ice this season. The Jets are riding an eight-game home point streak (7-0-1 in their last eight at Canada Life Centre) and have only lost twice in regulation at home in the past 22 games.
With the Sabres at the bottom of the Eastern Conference, a record of 10-21-3 on the road this season, and on the heels of Saturday’s dreadful loss in Minnesota, it’s going to be an uphill climb for Buffalo in this one.
2. Our Old Friend Eric
Eric Comrie is projected to get the start today for the Jets, facing off against his former team. While Connor Hellebuyck is obviously Winnipeg’s top netminder, Comrie hasn’t done bad for himself this season. In 17 games played, he’s 8-8-1 with a 2.39 GAA and .914 save percentage.
Comrie, of course, previously played for the Sabres from 2022-2024. He appeared in 29 games with Buffalo, going 11-16-1 with a 3.68 GAA and .882 save percentage.
At the other end of the rink, it’s likely to be James Reimer suiting up for the Sabres, since Luukkonen got the start on Saturday. Reimer is 2-8-2 this season with a 3.00 GAA and .895 save percentage.
3. Who’s Hot
Heading into Sunday’s game, JJ Peterka has registered 21 points (11 goals, 10 assists) in his last 19 games. Owen Power has five points in his last five games, and Tage Thompson has 35 points in his last 33 games.
Projected Lineups
Buffalo Sabres
Forwards
JJ Peterka – Ryan McLeod – Tage Thompson
Jason Zucker – Jordan Greenway – Alex Tuch
Beck Malenstyn – Tyson Kozak – Jack Quinn?
Jacob Bernard-Docker – Peyton Krebs – Zach Benson
Defense
Mattias Samuelsson – Rasmus Dahlin
Owen Power – Bowen Byram
Connor Clifton – Jacob Bryson
Goaltenders
James Reimer, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
Winnipeg Jets
Forwards
Kyle Connor – Mark Scheifele – Gabriel Vilardi
Nikolaj Ehlers – Vladislav Namestnikov – Cole Perfetti
Nino Niederreiter – Adam Lowry – Mason Appleton
Brandon Tanev – Morgan Barron – Alex Iafallo
Defense
Josh Morrissey – Dylan Demelo
Dylan Samberg – Luke Schenn
Haydn Fleury – Colin Miller
Goaltenders
Eric Comrie, Connor Hellebuyck