Game 68

Buffalo Sabres (29-30-8) vs. Philadelphia Flyers (40-20-7)

Puck Drop: 7:00 PM EST | Wells Fargo Center | Philadelphia, PA

TV: MSG-B

Radio: WGR 550

SB Nation Flyers Blog: Broad Street Hockey

Know Your Opponent

Philadelphia Flyers

Record: 40-20-7 | 87 PTS

Last 10: 9-1-0

Division Ranking: 2nd in the Metropolitan Division

Conference Ranking: 4th in Eastern Conference

PP: 8th (21.4%)

PK: 12th (81.7%)

What to Watch

1. A Tale of Two Seasons

Buffalo’s post-Deadline free fall has continued in full force. The Sabres have seen any potential thought of a playoff run be dashed by their current five-game losing streak.

At this point, Buffalo can embrace their roles as potential spoilers, but with the recent performances of the Buffalo Sabres in March, it is hard to envision anything else at this point.

With 15 games remaining in the regular season, Buffalo needs to do something to turn things around despite their almost non-existent playoff hopes.

2. Return of Linus?

Goaltender Linus Ullmark practiced with the team on Friday and looks ready to go. Ralph Krueger did say that Carter Hutton was the starting goaltender in Philadelphia but with Ullmark backing up, it does appear that he is ready to return to the lineup after a lengthy absence.

Buffalo has really missed the presence of Ullmark in goal.

3. Shaking Things Up

Friday’s practice represented a shake-up of sorts. Ralph Krueger decided there was no time like the present to shake up the lines.

Both offensively and defensively, things do appear different.

While this merely seems like pouring a bottle of water on a burning building at this point, Krueger appears to have not given up on trying to find the best lineup for this team, while they struggle to snap their five-game skid.

Projected Lineup

Buffalo Sabres

Forwards

Jeff Skinner - Jack Eichel - Sam Reinhart

Victor Olofsson - Marcus Johansson - Dominik Kahun

Jimmy Vesey - Curtis Lazar - Wayne Simmonds

Zemgus Girgensons - Johan Larsson - Kyle Okposo

Defense

Brandon Montour - Rasmus Ristolainen

Jake McCabe - Henri Jokiharju

Rasmus Dahlin - Colin Miller

Starting Goaltender: Carter Hutton (projected)

Philadelphia Flyers

Forwards

Claude Giroux - Sean Couturier - Jakub Voracek

Joel Farabee - Kevin Hayes - Travis Konecny

Scott Laughton - Derek Grant - Tyler Pitlick

Michael Raffl - Nate Thompson - Nicolas Aube-Kubel

Defense

Ivan Provorov - Matt Niskanen

Travis Sanheim - Philippe Myers

Robert Hagg - Justin Braun

Starting Goaltender: Carter Hart (projected)