Game 7
Buffalo Sabres (3-4-1) vs. Detroit Red Wings (4-3-0)
Puck Drop: 1:00 PM EST | Little Caesars Arena | Detroit, Michigan
TV: MSG-B
Radio: WGR 550
Know Your Opponent
Detroit Red Wings
Record: 4-3-0 | 8 PTS
Division Ranking: 4th in Atlantic Division
Last Game: 5-3 Win vs. New Jersey Devils
PP: 22.8% (16th)
PK: 62.5% (31st)
What to Watch
1. Moving in the Right Direction?
The Sabres will look to earn their third consecutive win for the first time this season this afternoon – and on home ice, which is always a welcome event. They will also be donning the fan favorite “Goathead” (red and black) jerseys for the first time this season.
Fans should be looking for a full 60 minutes of hard playing, something they have struggled with for what feels like years. If they come out with a physical presence right at the opening puck drop and with an offense mindset, they are absolutely capable of a win. The momentum is on Buffalo’s side after their 4-2 victory against Dallas on Tuesday, so hopefully they can keep the scoring going as they have tallied eight goals in their last two games.
2. They’re Going Streaking
Forwards Tage Thompson and Ryan McLeod have been on a roll this season as they are both on five-game point streaks. Thompson has earned four goals and three assists, while McLeod has been impressive with his four goals and one assist thus far. Another honorable mention for solid play is Alex Tuch, who has shined both offensively and defensively. The alternate captain has contributed three goals (one of which was shorthanded) and six assists since the start of the season. He is a +3 and has gradually become the solid two-way forward the Sabres have needed for a long time.
In other news, what is also streaking is the Sabres’ power play – and not in a good way. They have yet to score a goal with the man-advantage in the 2024-2025 season and, as no surprise, sit 32nd in the league with a dismal 0-22. Will it finally happen today?
3. Practice Makes Perfect
One of the focuses of Buffalo’s team practice on Friday was offensive pressure in front of the opposing team’s net. This will be especially important against Detroit goaltender Alex Lyon, whose save percentage so far this season is .955 and GAA is 1.46. The Sabres will want to capitalize on rebound opportunities as often as possible if they want to get the puck past Lyon. This seems like an obvious strategy, but this team has been so inconsistent with their scoring in recent seasons, it will be interesting to see if this is executed successfully under the direction of head coach Lindy Ruff.
Projected Lineups
Buffalo Sabres
Forwards
JJ Peterka – Tage Thompson – Alex Tuch
Jiri Kulich – Dylan Cozens – Jack Quinn
Jason Zucker – Ryan McLeod – Jordan Greenway*
Beck Malenstyn – Peyton Krebs – Sam Lafferty/Nicolas Aube-Kubel**
*Greenway may be back in the lineup in place of Zach Benson, who has been resting to heal an injury sustained since Prague.
**Aube-Kubel may be ready to play today, according to Ruff. He has not seen ice time since suffering a lower-body injury during the first game of the season. However, Ruff also said it is more likely Aube-Kubel will take the extra practice and rest time this weekend and start Monday night against Florida instead.
Defense
Rasmus Dahlin – Henri Jokiharju
Bowen Byram – Owen Power
Mattias Samuelsson – Connor Clifton
Goaltenders: Ukka-Pekka Luukkonen (expected starter), Devon Levi
Detroit Red Wings
Forwards*
Alex DeBrincat – Dylan Larkin – Lucas Raymond
Vladimir Tarasenko – Marco Kasper – Patrick Kane
Michael Rasmussen – Andrew Copp – Christian Fischer
Joe Veleno – Jonatan Berggren
*J.T. Compher is day-to-day with an illness.
Defense
Simon Edvinsson – Moritz Seider
Ben Chiarot – Jeff Petry
Olli Maatta – Erik Gustafsson
Goaltenders: Alex Lyon (confirmed starter), Cam Talbot