Game 16

Buffalo Sabres (9-4-2) vs. Tampa Bay Lightning (6-5-2)

Puck Drop: 2:00 PM EST | Ericsson Globe | Stockholm, Sweden

TV: NBCS, SN1

Radio: WGR 550

SB Nation Lightning Blog: Raw Charge

Know Your Opponent

Tampa Bay Lightning

Record: (6-5-2) | 14 PTS

Last 10: 5-4-1

Division Ranking: 6th in Atlantic Division

Conference Ranking: 11th in Eastern Conference

PP: 9th (22.2%)

PK: 27th (72.9%)

What to Watch

1. First International Game(s) Since 2011

Continuing with all the 50th anniversary fun the Sabres have participated in so far this season, the hockey club made their way to Sweden earlier this week. The last time the Sabres played in Europe was during the 2011 season opener when they faced the Anaheim Ducks in Finland. Making the trip this time is half of a dozen Swedes – who will hopefully feel right at home: Rasmus Dahlin, Marcus Johansson, Johan Larsson, Victor Olofsson, Lawrence Pilut, and Linus Ullmark.

2. Scoring Struggles Continue

A noticeable obstacle this season so far has been the lack of shots and turning those shots into goals. With low SOG almost every game, the Sabres have been leaving fans with little to be desired. In their last two games against the Capitals and the Islanders, they produced just one single goal. Obviously, this is unacceptable and difficult to watch. Along with their scoring struggles are also issues among defense. Dahlin has been noticeably “off” his game these last few weeks with countless turnovers and careless penalties. Perhaps we will see the spark we saw last season as he returns to his native Sweden.

3. Overcoming Adversity

Sabres fans have been feeling a bit nostalgic during the last week – and not in a good way. The team has faced their first losing streak of the season, are 1-3-1 in their last five games after a hot start, and are looking to bring home some points following their European trip. They will really need to prove themselves against Tampa Bay – a playoff team with incredible talent. While this is all-too familiar, Buffalo has plenty of time to turn things around and not make the same mistakes as last season.

Projected Lineup

Buffalo Sabres

Forwards

Victor Olofsson – Jack Eichel – Sam Reinhart

Jeff Skinner – Marcus Johansson – Vladimir Sobotka

Conor Sheary – Casey Mittelstadt – Evan Rodrigues

Zemgus Girgensons – Johan Larsson – Kyle Okposo

Defense

Rasmus Dahlin – Brandon Montour

Jake McCabe – Rasmus Ristolainen

Henri Jokiharju – Colin Miller

Lawrence Pilut – John Gilmour

Starting Goaltender: Carter Hutton

Tampa Bay Lightning

Forwards

Alexander Volkov – Steven Stamkos – Nikita Kucherov

Ondrej Palat – Brayden Point – Tyler Johnson

Alex Killorn – Anthony Cirelli – Mathieu Joseph

Yanni Gourde – Cedric Paquette – Luke Witkowski

Defense

Ryan McDonagh – Erik Cernak

Mikhail Sergachev – Kevin Shattenkirk

Jan Rutta – Luke Schenn

Starting Goaltender: Andrei Vasilevskiy