Game 69
Buffalo Sabres (30-29-9) vs. Dallas Stars (35-28-5)
Puck Drop: 7:00 PM | Key Bank Center | Buffalo, NY
TV: FSW+, MSG-B
Radio: WGR 550
SB Nation Stars Blog: Defending Big D
Know Your Opponent
Dallas Stars
Record: (35-28-5)
Last 10: (6-4-0)
Division Ranking: 4th in the Central Division
Conference Ranking: 7th in the Western Conference
PP: 16th (19.5%)
PK: 6th (82.4%)
What to Watch
1. Captain Jack is out for two games
Adding insult to injury (no pun intended), the Sabres will add to their struggles as they will need to play without their captain for the next two games. Jack Eichel has been suspended for an illegal head check to Carl Soderberg of the Colorado Avalanche. Buffalo faced Colorado this past Saturday and suffered another loss, making it four in a row for the previously hopeful playoff contenders. Eichel is to forfeit just over $100,000 to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.
2. Alexander Nylander receives his first NHL recall of the season
Better late than never, right? The Buffalo Sabres have finally decided to recall Nylander, who is having a great year with the Rochester Americans. In his 49 games, he has racked up 31 total points.
3. Looking for revenge
The last and only time these teams have met this season was not a favorable outcome for the Sabres. They were shut out in Dallas with a disappointing 1-0 final score. The Sabres will look not only to defeat the Stars this season, but to also end their four-game losing streak.
Buffalo Sabres
Forwards
Jeff Skinner – Casey Mittelstadt – Jason Pominville
Conor Sheary – Evan Rodrigues – Alex Nylander
Tage Thompson – Vladimir Sobotka – Sam Reinhart
Scott Wilson – Johan Larsson – Kyle Okposo
Defense
Rasmus Dahlin – Zach Bogosian
Matt Hunwick – Rasmus Ristolainen
Marco Scandella – Brandon Montour
Starting Goaltender: Linus Ullmark
Dallas Stars
Forwards
Rooper Hintz – Tyler Seguin – Alexander Radulov
Jamie Benn – Jason Dickinson – Blake Comeau
Mattias Janmark – Jason Spezza – Brett Ritchie
Andrew Cogliano – Joel L’esperance – Valeri Nichushkin
Defense
Miro Heiskanen – John Klingberg
Esa Lindell – Roman Polak
Taylor Fedun – Ben Lovejoy
Starting Goaltender: Ben Bishop (expected)