Game #76
Buffalo Sabres (21-46-9) at Detroit Red Wings (36-26-14)
TV – MSG, Bell, FS-D+ | Radio – WGR 550 – AM
SB Nation Red Wings Blog – Winging It In Motown
Three Questions
1. Can anyone other than Hodgson, Ennis, or Stafford help out in the offensive end?
It’s very nice to see Buffalo’s top forwards scoring once again, but while they’ve been carrying the offense, the rest of the team can’t seem to find the back of the net. Outside of a Matt D’Agostini or Brian Flynn goal once every 15 games, where’s the rest of the offense supposed to come from?
2. Don’t look now, but Ville Leino is starting to look like a competent hockey player. Can he do anything to help his rocket-like ascent up the depth chart continue?
Leino has an assist in each of his last two games, and has been buzzing around the net more over the past week. His shootout-winning goal in Buffalo this week was honestly a magical moment, and seemed to lift the 800-lbs gorilla off of Leino’s shoulders. Will he find the back of the net in any of his last seven games?
3. Can the Sabres get through one game without another injury?
Take a look at tonight’s scratches – Stafford, Foligno, Tallinder, Myers, Konopka, Stewart, Sulzer, Mitchell, Enroth, Neuvirth. Playing in starting positions for the Sabres are names like McCabe, Ristolainen, Deslauriers, Ruhwedel, Adam, and Larsson. If this were the 2015-16 season, that’s a good thing, but at this point in their careers, these guys are still learning how to be pro hockey players.
Projected BUF lines
Conacher – Ennis – D’Agostini
Hodgson – Girgensons – Flynn
Adam – Larsson – Leino
Deslauriers – Ellis – Scott
Ehrhoff – Ristolainen
Weber – McBain
McCabe – Ruhwedel
Goal: Matt Hackett
Scratches/Injuries: Stafford, Foligno, Tallinder, Myers, Konopka, Stewart, Sulzer, Mitchell Enroth, Neuvirth