Game 21

Buffalo Sabres (6-11-3) vs. New York Islanders (12-6-4)

Puck Drop: 7:00 PM EST | Nassau Coliseum | Uniondale, NY

TV: MSG

Radio: WGR 550

SB Nation Islanders Blog: Lighthouse Hockey

Know Your Opponent

New York Islanders

Record: (12-6-4) | 28 PTS

Division Ranking: 2nd in East Division

PP: 12th (24.6%)

PK: 8th (82.8%)

1. Back-to-Back-to-Back

According to the Buffalo Sabres PR department, these next three games against the New York Islanders marks the first time in franchise history that the Sabres will play the same team in three straight regular season games, in the same season.

All games are incredibly important at this point of the season, with Buffalo struggling. Getting themselves familiar and comfortable with the Islanders way of hockey, these next few games could certainly get a little chippy.

2. Snap The Skid

Buffalo rolls into tonight’s game on a three-game losing streak. Furthermore, the Sabres boast a very ugly 2-7-1 record in their last ten games.

The Sabres season certainly is spinning out of control and playing against the same, talented opponent over the next three games does not appear to bode well for a team looking to right the ship.

3. Hoping For Goals

The Buffalo Sabres currently average 2.20 goals per game, which is 29th in the National Hockey League.

The New York Islanders allow 2.23 goals per game, which is third in the National Hockey League.

See the issue here? A team that can’t score is going against a team that suppresses scoring better than most teams in the league.

This certainly should work out well for Buffalo, right?

Projected Lineups

Buffalo Sabres

Forwards

Victor Olofsson – Jack Eichel – Sam Reinhart

Taylor Hall – Eric Staal – Kyle Okposo

Tobias Rieder – Cody Eakin – Dylan Cozens

Jeff Skinner – Curtis Lazar – Riley Sheahan

Defense

Rasmus Dahlin – Rasmus Ristolainen

Brandon Montour – Henri Jokiharju

Jacob Bryson – Colin Miller

Starter: Carter Hutton

New York Islanders

Forwards

Anders Lee – Mathew Barzal – Jordan Eberle

Anthony Beauvillier – Brock Nelson – Josh Bailey

Michael Dal Colle – Jean-Gabriel Pageau – Oliver Wahlstrom

Cal Clutterbuck – Casey Cizikas – Matt Martin

Defense

Adam Pelech – Ryan Pulock

Nick Leddy – Scott Mayfield

Andy Greene – Noah Dobson

Starter: Semyon Varlamov