Game #77
Buffalo Sabres (32-32-12) at Columbus Blue Jackets (48-19-7)
Puck Drop: 7:00 p.m. EST | Nationwide Arena | Columbus, OH
TV: MSG, FS-O | Radio: WGR 550
SB Nation’s Blue Jackets Blog: The Cannon
Three Questions
1. We’ve seen two very good efforts from the Sabres in a row. Care to make it three?
Buffalo’s two most recent games may well be their best two-some of the season, as far as controlling the game and playing for 60 minutes goes. It’s been great to watch, and if they can put out a third strong game in a row, we might have some hope that they’re actually figuring things out…just twenty games too late. Columbus is a great team, currently sitting just three points behind Washington for the President’s Trophy, and they play tough at home, so the Sabres will have their work cut out for them tonight.
2. Can the Sabres power play continue to dominate?
Tonight will be another battle of strength versus strength, as Columbus has a pretty good PK that’s been hot as of late. But the Sabres power play has bee nigh-unstoppable recently, converting six for their last eight chances and leading the league at 25.1%.
3. Will Jack ever crack the point-per-game ratio?
After two assists last night against Florida, Jack Eichel now sits at 55 points in 55 games, and I think it would just be the coolest if he finished the season over 1.00 PPG.
Projected Buffalo Lines
63 Tyler Ennis — 90 Ryan O’Reilly — 21 Kyle Okposo
82 Marcus Foligno — 15 Jack Eichel — 23 Sam Reinhart
9 Evander Kane — 71 Evan Rodrigues — 12 Brian Gionta
48 William Carrier — 28 Zemgus Girgensons — 26 Matt Moulson
Jake McCabe Dmitry KulikovBrady AustinZach Bogosian
Josh GorgesJustin Falk
Goal: 40 Robin Lehner