Game #48
Buffalo Sabres (12-26-9) vs. Edmonton Oilers (21-23-3)
Season Series: 1-0 Sabres
11/24 – Sabres 3 | Oilers 1 (recap)
Puck drop: 9:00 p.m. EST | Rogers Place | Edmonton, AB
TV: MSG
Radio: WGR 550
SB Nation Oilers blog: Copper and Blue
What to Watch
1. Eichel vs McDavid
Whenever the Sabres and Oilers meet the headline is the top two picks in the 2015 NHL draft facing off. Both players are having a really good season while their clubs flounder at the bottom of the standings.
2. Johnson or Lehner?
Robin Lehner has struggled as of late and Chad Johnson played really well last night in Calgary. Does Phil Housley go back to Johnson on back to backs or does he give the net back to Lehner?
3. Free Antipin?
With Nathan Beaulieu leaving the game early last night after hitting his face on the ice. It would seem unlikely he plays tonight in Edmonton. Meaning Victor Antipin will finally get back into the lineup. The 25-year-old defender has not played since December 19th, after a battle with the flu.
Know Your Opponent
1. Disappointing Season
After a nice little run in the playoffs last season. The expectations were high for the Oilers entering this season. Thus far they’ve fallen well short of meeting those expectations. Entering tonight they’re 11 points out of the final playoff spot in the Pacific division and 12 points out of the final wild-card spot in the Western Conference.
2. Coming in hot and rested.
The Oilers have won their last three games by a combined score of 12-6. They’ve also been sitting idle since Saturday. The Sabres could be in tough tonight after a tough overtime game last night in Calgary.
Projected Lineup
28 Zemgus Girgensons – 15 Jack Eichel – 21 Kyle Okposo
20 Scott Wilson – 90 Ryan O’Reilly – 23 Sam Reinhart
9 Evander Kane – 22 Johan Larsson – 29 Jason Pominville
17 Jordan Nolan – 71 Evan Rodrigues – 13 Nick Baptiste
6 Marco Scandella – 55 Rasmus Ristolainen
93 Victor Antipin – 19 Jake McCabe
41 Justin Falk – 8 Casey Nelson
Starting Goaltender: 31 Chad Johnson (unconfirmed)