Game 24

Buffalo Sabres (11-9-3) vs. Tampa Bay Lightning (11-7-2)

Puck Drop: 7:00 PM EST | Amalie Arena | Tampa Bay, FL

TV: MSG

Radio: WGR 550

SB Nation Lightning Blog: Raw Charge

Know Your Opponent

Tampa Bay Lightning

Record: (11-7-2) | 24 PTS

Last 10: 6-4-0

Division Ranking: 6th in Atlantic Division

Conference Ranking: 11th in Eastern Conference

PP: 1st (32.8%)

PK: 19th (80.0%)

What to WatchBuffalo

1. Two in a row?

The Sabres picked up a much needed victory last night over the Florida Panthers. Tonight they face the Lightning looking to win their second straight game. In the midst of a long stretch of losing, if the Sabres win tonight it’ll be their first two-game winning streak since October 22nd.

2. Lineup Decision

After losing Evan Rodrigues to an injury last night, the Sabres recalled Jean-Sebastien Dea this morning. Ralph Kruger went with an 11 forward and seven defensemen against the Panthers last night. We’ll see how he decides to handle his lineup tonight. Does Dea get into the game or does Krueger go 11-7 again?

Game Prediction

Projected Lineup

Buffalo Sabres (unconfirmed)

Forwards

Jimmy Vesey – Jack Eichel – Sam Reinhart

Jeff Skinner – Casey Mittelstadt – Conor Sheary

Victor Olofsson – Jean-Sebastien Dea – Rasmus Asplund

Zemgus Girgensons – Johan Larsson – Curtis Lazar

Defense

Jake McCabe – Rasmus Ristolainen

Zach Bogosian – Rasmus Dahlin

Colin Miller – Brandon Montour

Marco Scandella – Henri Jokiharju

Starting Goaltender: Carter Hutton

Tampa Bay Lightning

Forwards

Ondrej Palat – Brayden Point – Nikita Kucherov

Alex Killorn – Anthony Cirelli – Mathieu Joseph

Patrick Maroon – Cedric Paquette – Yanni Gourde

Carter Verhaeghe – Tyler Johnson – Cory Conacher

Defense

Victor Hedman – Kevin Shattenkirk

Ryan McDonagh – Erik Cernak

Mikhail Sergachev – Luke Schenn

Starting Goaltender: Andrei Vasilevskiy