Game #55
Buffalo Sabres (15-29-10) vs. Boston Bruins (33-11-8)
Season Series: 1-1
Puck drop: 7:00 p.m. EST | TD Garden | Boston, MA
TV: MSG
Radio: WGR 550
SB Nation Bruins blog: Stanley Cup of Chowder
What to Watch
1. Coming in (Kind of) Hot
Despite how bad the Sabres season has been going, Buffalo heads into Boston tonight on the heels of… a win? How often do we actually get to say that? Buffalo topped the Islanders on Thursday 4-3, finally securing the franchise’s 1,000 home win. After a lengthy home stretch, the Sabres hit the road tonight for the first time in a while before going back to KeyBank Center Sunday night.
2. Lineup Changes
Chad Johnson is expected to start in net for the Sabres, while Zemgus Girgensons is questionable for tonight’s game with illness.
Girgensons missed the morning skate, and he’s a game-time decision. If he can’t go, Scott Wilson will take his spot on a line with Johan Larsson and Jason Pominville.
Know Your Opponent
1. Bruins on a winning streak
Heading into tonight’s game, the Bruins have won four straight and are undefeated in the month of February. That includes a pair of games this past week against Detroit (3-2) and the Rangers (6-1). Tonight’s game also opens a back-to-back set for Boston, who visits New Jersey Sunday.
2. Pasternak & Marchand leading the charge
David Pasternak and Brad Marchand are leading the Bruins with 51 points each this season. They’ve each got 21 goals and 30 assists. Pastrnak has 17 power-play points, while Marchand has scored three game-winning goals.
3. In the Standings
Heading into tonight’s game, the Bruins are second in the Atlantic Division with 74 points, three shy of Tampa Bay and five ahead of Toronto.
Their record at home this season: 18-6-4.
Projected Lineup
71 Evan Rodrigues – 15 Jack Eichel – 23 Sam Reinhart
9 Evander Kane – 90 Ryan O’Reilly – 21 Kyle Okposo
20 Scott Wilson – 22 Johan Larsson – 29 Jason Pominville
67 Benoit Pouliot – 10 Jacob Josefson – 17 Jordan Nolan
6 Marco Scandella – 8 Casey Nelson
82 Nathan Beaulieu – 55 Rasmus Ristolainen
4 Josh Gorges – 93 Victor Antipin
Starting Goaltender: 31 Chad Johnson