Game #9
Buffalo Sabres (2-6-0) at
Philadelphia Flyers (4-2-1)
Two Questions
1. Who will step up offensively with Kane out?
The big winner of the Evander Kane injury as of right now is Nic Deslauriers, who has been moved up to the first line. However, the Sabres will need more from all their players with Kane’s offensive prowess missing from the top six. Johan Larsson has also been promoted, practicing on a “young guns” line with Jack Eichel and Sam Reinhart. Will one of them help to fill the void left by Kane, or will one of the Sabres veterans pick up the slack?
2. What will the score be after two periods?
Part of the reason the Sabres record is 2-6-0 is because they’ve gone into the third period trailing by at least one goal in all but two of their eight games. They had a lead against Columbus (which they won) and were tied in their second game against the Lightning (which they lost). Even a tie after two periods would be an improvement on their general performance this season, and heaven forbid they actually take a lead into the dressing room. Playing from behind can make for some exciting third periods, but it would be nice to protect a lead more than once every eight games.
Projected BUF lines
Weber – Franson