Game 31
Buffalo Sabres (6-21-4) vs. Pittsburgh Penguins (20-11-2)
Puck Drop: 7:00 PM EST | PPG Paints Arena | Pittsburgh, PA
TV: MSG
Radio: WGR 550
SB Nation Penguins Blog: Pensburgh
Know Your Opponent
Pittsburgh Penguins
Record: (20-11-2) | 42 PTS
Division Ranking: 3rd in East Division
PP: 24th (17.9%)
PK: 19th (76.5%)
1. Not The Good Kind of Record
The Buffalo Sabres lost their 15th straight game last night, setting a shootout-era record in the National Hockey League.
Since February 25, the Sabres are 0-13-2. The NHL points out that this 15 game stretch surpasses the 2009-10 Carolina Hurricanes, the 2010-11 New York Islanders and the 2014-15 Sabres – all teams that each lost 14 consecutive games.
Buffalo has looked overwhelmed and overmatched throughout this stretch of futility. One can only hope the skid ends sooner rather than later.
2. Dinged Up Roster
Last night’s game featured a lineup of 11 forwards and seven defensemen, due to the late scratch of forward Tage Thompson.
Thompson did not test positive for Covid, which simply means he just did not feel well enough to play.
During the game, forward Rasmus Asplund suffered an undisclosed injury in the first period and did not return.
If both Thompson and Asplund are unable to go tonight in Pittsburgh, roster shuffling is a must prior to puck drop.
3. Smarten Up
Following last night’s 5-2 loss, defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen had some pointed words.
“I don’t think we play very smart,” Ristolainen told the media postgame. “We make really stupid mistakes that lead to way too many odd man rushes every game, and a team like Pittsburgh, they have skill up front and they had way too many odd-man rushes. I think we should keep it very simple.”
Very well spoken for a player who has been through the ringer throughout his NHL career. Long story short though, words are just that if you do not act.
Can Ristolainen and the Sabres turn things around? Only time will tell.
Projected Lineup
Buffalo Sabres
Forwards
Taylor Hall – Dylan Cozens – Sam Reinhart
Victor Olofsson – Eric Staal – Tage Thompson
Jeff Skinner – Curtis Lazar – Casey Mittelstadt
Rasmus Asplund – Cody Eakin – Riley Sheahan
Defense
Jacob Bryson – Rasmus Ristolainen
Rasmus Dahlin – Colin Miller
Henri Jokiharju – Brandon Montour
Starting Goalie: Dustin Tokarski
Pittsburgh Penguins
Forwards
Jake Guentzel – Sidney Crosby – Bryan Rust
Zach Aston-Reese – Jared McCann – Kasperi Kapanen
Evan Rodrigues – Mark Jankowski – Sam Lafferty
Colton Sceviour – Frederick Gaudreau – Anthony Angello
Defense
Brian Dumoulin – Kris Letang
Mike Matheson – Cody Ceci
Marcus Pettersson – John Marino
Starting Goalie: Tristan Jarry