Game 56
Buffalo Sabres (27-22-6) vs New York Islanders (33-16-6)
Puck Drop: 7:00 PM EST | KeyBank Center | Buffalo, NY
TV: MSG-B
Radio: WGR 550
SB Nation Islanders blog: Lighthouse Hockey
Know Your Opponent
New York Islanders
Record: (33-16-6) | 72 points
Last 10: 7-1-2
Division Ranking: 1st in Metro Division
Conference Ranking: 2nd in the Eastern Conference
PP: 27th (16.1%)
PK: 17th (80.0%)
What to Watch
1. Headed in the opposite direction
Tonight is a matchup of two hockey clubs that have gone in different directions since the beginning of December. The New York Islanders have flew up the standings and currently sit atop the Metro Division by five points.
The Sabres on the other hand have slid down the standings and find themselves 11 points behind the Islanders in the standings. At one point a few months ago they were up eight points in the standings on the Isles. Now, the Sabres are battling for their playoff lives and the Islanders are on cruise control to the postseason.
2. Capitalize on the Chances
The Islanders are good in their own end of the ice. They don’t give up a lot of opportunities and are top-10 in the league in the least amount of shots allowed. The Sabres will need to capitalize on their opportunities when they present themselves tonight to have a chance to pull out two points.
Buffalo Sabres
Forwards
Jeff Skinner – Jack Eichel – Jason Pominville
Conor Sheary – Casey Mittelstadt- Sam Reinhart
Vladimir Sobotka – Evan Rodrigues – Tage Thompson
Zemgus Girgensons – Johan Larsson – Kyle Okposo
Defense
Marco Scandella – Rasmus Ristolainen
Rasmus Dahlin – Matt Hunwick
Lawrence Pilut – Jake McCabe
Starting Goaltender: Linus Ullmark
New York Islanders
Forwards
Anders Lee – Brock Nelson – Jordan Eberle
Michael Dal Colle – Mathew Barzal – Josh Bailey
Anthony Beauvillier – Val Filppula – Leo Komarov
Matt Martin – Casey Cizikas – Tom Kuhnackl
Defense
Nick Leddy – Johnny Boychuk
Adam Pelech – Ryan Pulock
Devon Toews – Scott Mayfield
Starting Goaltender: Robin Lehner (unconfirmed)