The Buffalo Sabres are out west tonight, as their 9:00pm EST start time would indicate, and tonight they’ll face an NHL team for the last time EVER.
It’s a bit overdramtic, yes, but the Phoenix Coyotes will be changing their name to the Arizona Coyotes next season, so this will be the last preview that starts with “Buffalo at Phoenix”. They Coyotes aren’t lighting the world on fire these days, but the Sabres are mired in a 1-4-3 slump themselves, and are trying to right the defensive ship once again after a stretch that saw them lose multiple consecutive games by a score of 4-3.
Matt D’Agostini returns to the lineup tonight in place of John Scott, and Ryan Miller is expected to go in net, as he closes in on his final starts before the Olympic break.
Game #53
Buffalo Sabres (14-30-8) vs. Phoenix Coyotes (25-18-10)
Puck Drop – 9:00pm EST – Jobing.com Arena – Glendale, AZ
TV – MSG Bell-TV, FS-A | Radio – WGR 550-AM
SBNation Coyotes Blog – Five For Howling
Three Questions
1. What does the triumphant return of Matt D’Agostini mean for the fourth line?
No John Scott means an instant improvement in possession numbers, but can D’Agostini do anything more for his line than improve their Fenwick?
2. Can the Sabres stay hot in Glendale?
Buffalo hasn’t lost in Arizona since 2008.How many people think that streak is still going after tonight?
3. Will we see #Buttgoal 2 tonight?
I heard the sequel was even better than the first one.
Projected BUF Lines
Moulson – Ennis – Leino
Ott – Hodgson – Girgensons
Foligno – Varone – Flynn
D’Agostini – Konopka – Ellis
Ehrhoff – Sulzer
Myers – Tallinder
Weber – Ruhwedel
Goal: Ryan Miller
Scratches/Injuries: McBain, Stafford, McCormick, Scott, Omark