Game #43
Buffalo Sabres (16-22-4) at
Minnesota Wild (22-12-8)
Puck Drop: 8:00 pm EST | Xcel Energy Center | St. Paul, MN
TV: MSG, Bell, FS-N+ | Radio: WGR 550
SB Nation Wild Blog: Hockey Wilderness
Three Questions
1. How will Mark Pysyk look in his first game back from injury?
The Sabres have been without the services of Mark Pysyk for almost two months – his last NHL game was November 17. The smooth-skating, sharp-passing defenseman was recently recalled from Rochester, where he played three games and tallied one point.
2. Marcus Foligno scored his first goal in 11 games against Winnipeg. Will any other slumping Sabres break out tonight?
The Sabres have been a very top-heavy scoring team this season, with very little happening outside of O’Reilly, McGinn, Ristolainen, and the rookies. The Sabres could certainly use more contributions from guys like Matt Moulson, Zemgus Girgensons, Evander Kane, and Tyler Ennis if they want to get a winning streak going.
3. How will all our old friends look for the Wild?
Thomas Vanek, Jason Pominville and Tyson Strachan will face their old team tonight, as the Sabres Central Division Reunion Tour 2016 continues.
Projected BUF lines
Kane – O’Reilly – McGinn
Reinhart – Eichel – Gionta
Foligno – Larsson – Girgensons
Moulson – Schaller – Legwand
Gorges – Ristolainen
McCabe – Bogosian
Weber – Franson
Weber – Franson
Goal: Linus Ullmark