Game #3
Buffalo Sabres (1-1-0)
at Calgary Flames (0-2-1)
Puck drop: 9 p.m. EST | Scotiabank Saddledome | Cagary, Alberta
TV: MSG-B, SNF | Radio: WGR 550
SB Nation Flames Blog: Matchsticks and Gasoline
Three Questions
1. Will Robin Lehner be able to out-duel our old friend Chad Johnson?
Johnson is expected to start tonight for the Flames, giving him a chance to face the team that let him walk in the offseason. Chad looked great in his only appearance so far this year, making 30 of 31 saves in a shootout loss to the Canucks, while Lehner looked much better against the Oilers after a shaky season opener. He’s got to be at least as good as Johnson tonight, if not better.
2. Who will continue their scoring streak tonight?
Ryan O’Reilly, Brian Gionta, Kyle Okposo, and Rasmus Ristolainen all had multi-point games on Sunday, while Matt Moulson and Sam Reinhart are working on two-game point streaks. Who will keep it rolling tonight? Hopefully more than one of these guys, as they’re most of the engine that powers the Sabres offense with Eichel still on the shelf.
3. Can the Sabres D give another strong, all-around performance?
After a season opener that had us all scratching our heads at their positioning, the Sabres blueliners looked collectively much better in Game #2. One Kulikov/Franson brain fart aside, they held a dangerous Oilers offense to about five minutes worth of quality chances. Doing the same thing tonight against Johnny Hockey and the Flames would be the start of a comforting trend.
Projected BUF Lines
Reinhart – O’Reilly – Okposo
Foligno – Larsson – Gionta
Deslauriers – Girgensons – Ennis
Moulson – Grant – Baptiste
Gorges – Ristolainen
McCabe – Bogosian
Kulikov – Franson
Goal: Robin Lehner