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Sabres Look to Build on Success in Western Canada
Game 64
Buffalo Sabres (22-33-8) vs. Pittsburgh Penguins (39-16-9)
Puck Drop: 7:30 PM | KeyBank Center | Buffalo, NY
TV: TNT
Radio: WGR 550
SB Nation Penguins Blog: Pensburgh
Know Your Opponent
Pittsburgh Penguins Record: 39-16-9 | 87 PTS
Division Ranking: 2nd in Metropolitan Division
PP: 16th (20.3%)
PK: 2nd (86.2%)
What to Watch
1. Special Kind of Deadly
The Penguins are one of the best teams in the NHL when it comes to the special teams’ units. Their penalty kill is 2nd in the league and neutralizes many opportunities opponents get. Buffalo tends to struggle with more aggressive penalty kills, so they will need to be focused on puck support and quick movement to counteract the Penguins’ killers. Pittsburgh might have a mid-ranked powerplay, but anytime you can roll out Crosby-Malkin-Letang on the ice, you can expect some high danger chances. Not taking penalties is always a key to winning, but against Pittsburgh, it’s a necessity.
2. Dominance of Dahlin
If there was any doubt before, Sunday’s game against Vancouver proved that Rasmus Dahlin has arrived. After a rough start to the season, Dahlin has improved in every aspect of his game. He’s always been good at moving the puck but has shown elite vision and breakout ability in recent games. More impressively, he’s added a physical element to his game we haven’t seen before. This has allowed him to be more effective at causing turnovers and jump starting the offensive transition by slowing or outright preventing opponents from offensive zone possession. In a year designed to develop Buffalo’s young players, the emergence of Dahlin is an excellent sign for future Sabres success.
3. Revamped 3rd Line
One key to the Penguins’ cup wins in 2016 and 2017 was their 3rd line. The combination of Haglin-Bonino-Kessel feasted on easier matchups as teams tried to stop the Crosby and Malkin lines. Pittsburgh might have recaptured that concept with the new line of Rakell-Carter-Kapanen. 37-year-old Jeff Carter is quietly having a solid season with 34 points in 58 games. Rickard Rakell had a quiet two shot night in his Penguins debut Tuesday night but is a former 2-time 30 goal scorer and on pace for 25 goals this year. Kasperi Kapanen may not be the point producer he was drafted to be, but rounds out the trio with speed, skill, and puck possession prowess. On paper, this looks like the 2nd coming of the “HBK” line. If they find some chemistry, watch for the “RCK” line to be the difference down the stretch and in the playoffs for Pittsburgh.
Projected Lineups
Buffalo Sabres
Forwards
Skinner - Thompson - Tuch
Krebs - Cozens - Hinostroza
Asplund – Mittelstadt – Olofsson
Girgensons - Eakin – Okposo
Defense
Dahlin - Jokiharju
Miller - Pysyk
Samuelsson - Bryson
Starter: Anderson
Pittsburgh Penguins
Forwards
Guentzel - Crosby - Rodrigues
Heinen – Malkin– Rust
Rakell - Carter - Kapanen
Boyle - Blueger - Zohorna
Defense
Dumoulin – Letang
Matheson – Marino
Pettersson - Ruhwedel
Starter: DeSmith