Game #52

Buffalo Sabres (21-20-10) at New Jersey Devils (22-12-10)

Puck drop: 7:00 p.m. EST | Prudential Center | Newark, NJ

TV: MSG, NHL.tv | Radio: WGR 550

SB Nation’s Devils Blog: All About the Jersey

Two Questions

1. How will Robin Lehner respond to getting his first shutout of the season?

An up and down year for Lehner finally peaked on Saturday with his first shutout of the season. Actually, 2017 has been kind to the big Swede, as he’s 5-1-1 with a .928 save percentage since the calendar turned. Games against the Devils are traditionally low scoring, so the margin for error is low. Another strong effort between the pipes would go a long way toward starting this week out with a win.

2. Will we end up in yet another shootout?

This is more just a way to write about this quirky stat: Of all the teams the Sabres have played since the shootout was implemented, they’ve gone to the skills competition more times against the Devils than any other team – including anyone in their own division. Thanks to plenty of low-scoring affairs, these two teams have settled the game in the shootout 12 times in 32 meetings, and in eight of their last 16. Since their last meeting was decided in regulation, we’re due for a shootout to balance things out.

Projected Buffalo Lines

26 Matt Moulson – 90 Ryan O’Reilly – 21 Kyle Okposo
82 Marcus Foligno – 15 Jack Eichel – 23 Sam Reinhart
9 Evander Kane – 28 Zemgus Girgensons – 12 Brian Gionta
56 Justin Bailey – 44 Nic Deslauriers – 63 Tyler Ennis

77 Dmitry Kulikov – 55 Rasmus Ristolainen
29 Jake McCabe – 6 Cody Franson
4 Josh Gorges – 41 Justin Falk

Goal: 40 Robin Lehner