Game 77

Buffalo Sabres (31-36-9) vs. Detroit Red Wings (28-38-10)

Puck Drop: 7:00 PM | KeyBank Center | Buffalo, NY

TV: MSG-B, MSG+

Radio: WGR 550

SB Nation Red Wings Blog: Winging It In Motown

Know Your Opponent

Detroit Red Wings

Record: 28-38-10

Last 10: 5-5-0

Division Ranking: 7th in the Atlantic Division

Conference Ranking: 15th in the Eastern Conference

PP: 25th (16.4%)

PK: 27th (77.7%)

What to Watch

1. The Debut of #GOALofsson

The moment has arrived for one of the more talented goal-scoring prospects to make their way through the Sabres organization these last few years.

On Wednesday afternoon, the Buffalo Sabres announced the recall of forward Victor Olofsson.

A seventh-round pick in the 2014 NHL Entry Level Draft, Olofsson has made a name for himself with his booming shot.

When he transitioned over to North America and the AHL, his shot most certainly followed.

With 27 goals in 64 games this season, Olofsson most certainly appears ready to see how his shot fairs on the biggest stage of them all.

2. Staring Last in the Face

Once the cream of the crop in the Eastern Conference, the Buffalo Sabres continue to fall on hard times these days.

With 71 points and the team skidding, Buffalo has a shot to fall even further down the Eastern Conference ranks.

Detroit is only five points behind Buffalo and this game marks the first of two meetings in the next few weeks.

Trouble continues to brew for the Sabres.

3. Lucky Number 100

Jack Eichel enters Thursday night’s game with 99 career goals.

Eichel is second on the team with 26 goals in 71 games but sits on the doorstep of his first real big career milestone.

Once Eichel tallies his 100th goal, he will become only the 31st Sabres player in franchise history to crack the century mark with the team.

Buffalo Sabres

Forwards

Victor Olofsson – Jack Eichel – Sam Reinhart

Jeff Skinner – Casey Mittelstadt – Jason Pominville

Conor Sheary – Vladimir Sobotka – Alex Nylander

Zemgus Girgensons – Johan Larsson – Kyle Okposo

Defense

Rasmus Dahlin – Will Borgen

Lawrence Pilut – Brandon Montour

Marco Scandella – Casey Nelson

Starting Goaltender: Carter Hutton (projected)

Detroit Red Wings

Forwards (projected)

Tyler Bertuzzi – Dylan Larkin – Anthony Mantha

Luke Glendening – Andreas Athanasiou – Taro Hirose

Ryan Kuffner – Frans Nielsen – Darren Helm

Jonathan Ericsson – Christopher Ehn – Matt Puempel

Defense (projected)

Daniel Dekeyser – Filip Hronek

Niklas Kronwall – Madison Bowey

Brian Lashoff – Dylan McIlrath

Starting Goaltender: Jimmy Howard (projected)