Game 31

Buffalo Sabres (13-11-6) vs. Edmonton Oilers (18-10-3)

Puck Drop: 8:00 PM EST | Rogers Place | Edmonton, Alberta

TV: MSG

Radio: WGR 550

SB Nation Oilers Blog: The Copper & Blue

Know Your Opponent

Edmonton Oilers

Record: (18-10-3) | 39 PTS

Last 10: 5-4-1

Division Ranking: 1st in Pacific Division

Conference Ranking: 3rd in Western Conference

PP: 1st (32.2%)

PK: 2nd (86.6%)

What to Watch

1. Bouncing Back

Buffalo was able to grab a point against the Calgary Flames, despite a disappointing overtime loss – which featured a waived off game-winning goal.

Thankfully, Buffalo is able to clear their minds of that game quickly with the fast turn around.

Edmonton is one of the best teams in the Western Conference and the Oilers find themselves deadly on both the power play and penalty kill.

Buffalo needs to find a way to bounce back to get two points against this tough Oilers squad.

2. Back to Ullmark in Net

With tonight’s game being the back-end of a back-to-back, it is likely that Linus Ullmark will be in net.

Not only has Ullmark been impressive with an increased role, Carter Hutton has continued to regress in his diminished role.

Last night’s performance was the fourth time in his last five games that Hutton has allowed at least four goals against. Not good.

3. Goalfsson Strikes Again

Victor Olofsson put home another beauty of a goal last night against the Calgary Flames.

Olofsson is now up to 12 goals and 14 assists (26 points) through his first 30 games this season.

If Olofsson keeps up this pace, he is projected to score 33 goals. Not bad for a seventh-round rookie.

Projected Lineups

Buffalo Sabres

Forwards

Victor Olofsson – Jack Eichel – Sam Reinhart

Jeff Skinner – Marcus Johansson – Rasmus Asplund

Jimmy Vesey – Casey Mittelstadt – Conor Sheary

Zemgus Girgensons – Johan Larsson – Kyle Okposo / Evan Rodrigues

Defense

Brandon Montour – Rasmus Ristolainen

Marco Scandella – Henri Jokiharju

Jake McCabe – Zach Bogosian / Colin Miller

Starting Goaltender: Linus Ullmark (expected)

Edmonton Oilers

Forwards

Jujhar Kharia – Leon Draisaitl – Sam Gagner

James Neal – Connor McDavid – Josh Archibald

Markus Granlund – Gaetan Haas – Alex Chiasson

Joakim Nygard – Riley Sheahan – Patrick Russell

Colby Cave – Ryan Nugent-Hopkins – Zack Kassian

Defense

Darnell Nurse – Ethan Bear

Oscar Klefbom – Joel Persson

Kris Russell – Adam Larsson

Brandon Manning

Starting Goaltender: Mikko Koskinen