Game #78

Buffalo Sabres (37-35-5) vs. Detroit Red Wings (37-31-8)

Puck Drop: 1:00 PM ET | Little Caesars Arena | Detroit, MI

TV: TNT

Radio: WGR-550

Know Your Opponent 

Detroit Red Wings

Record: 37-31-8

Last Game: 4-3 loss to the New York Rangers

Division Ranking: 5th, Atlantic

PP: 22.9% (9th)

PK: 79.8% (14th)

What To Watch For

1. The Biggest Game of the Season, Again

I feel like I’m on repeat here, but this is once again the biggest game of the season for the Sabres. The playoff chances are slim – very slim – but still existent, and today’s game against another team fighting for the final Wild Card spot is critical. As of writing, the Red Wings are three points ahead of the Sabres with a game in hand. A win today won’t help Buffalo move up in the standings at all, but it’s certainly an important one to keep the hope alive. It’s a super tight race, and with only four games left after today, every point is critical.

The Tampa Bay Lightning have already clinched the first wild card spot, which means it’s down to one spot for six teams potentially fighting for it. There’s also still one spot in the Metropolitan Division available that could switch things up in the wild card fight, too. The Capitals face the Senators today, while the Devils are playing the Predators – two other games to keep an eye on, but first & foremost, it has to be a win for the Sabres. And in regulation, please.

2. The Leaders

Players to watch today include Dylan Larkin, who has 61 points in just 62 games. He not only leads the Red Wings in points, but also goals – the only to hit 30. Lucas Raymond also has 61 points on the season, with 36 assists, matched by Alex DeBrincat. And of course, Patrick Kane has 42 points despite playing in only 44 games this season, so the Sabres will need to limit him, too.

Projected Lineups

Buffalo Sabres

Forwards 

JJ Peterka – Tage Thompson – Alex Tuch
Zach Benson – Dylan Cozens – Jack Quinn
Jeff Skinner – Peyton Krebs – Jordan Greenway(?)
Zemgus Girgensons – Tyson Jost – Lukas Rousek

Defense

Owen Power – Rasmus Dahlin
Bowen Byram – Henri Jokiharju
Jacob Bryson – Connor Clifton

Goaltenders: Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (projected starter), Eric Comrie

Detroit Red Wings

Forwards

David Perron – Dylan Larkin – Lucas Raymond
Alex DeBrincat – Austin Czarnik – Patrick Kane
Andrew Copp – J.T. Compher – Christian Fischer
Robby Fabbri – Joe Veleno – Daniel Sprong

Defense

Ben Chiarot – Moritz Seider
Simon Edvinsson – Jeff Petry
Olli Maatta – Shayne Gostisbehere

Goaltenders: Alex Lyon, James Reimer