Preseason Game #7
Buffalo Sabres (4-2-0) vs.
Columbus Blue Jackets (3-2-1)
The meaningless hockey is almost done. Tonight, Buffalo finishes off its preseason against the team that secured that either Connor McDavid or Jack Eichel would be a Buffalo Sabre. Thanks Columbus, we really appreciate it.
For the first time this preseason, the game will be televised live in Buffalo on MSG. Viewers should see a roster pretty close to the actual NHL roster, especially since the team cut eight players earlier today.
There was no mandatory pregame skate, so lines are a mystery. The Sabres should have their first two lines on the ice, as Ryan O’Reilly, Eichel, Evander Kane, Tyler Ennis, Matt Moulson, Sam Reinhart, Johan Larsson and Brian Gionta are all expected to play. Rasmus Ristolainen will be playing a second game in a row since returning from injury. Robin Lehner will start and is expected to play the entire game tonight.
The Blue Jackets still have one more preseason game tomorrow, so they are fielding a youthful lineup. If you recognize more than three names from that group, you should get a ribbon. The Sabres could be the team dominating tonight, instead of the other way around against Minnesota.
Six more days until regular season hockey.
Projected BUF lineup
Kane – O’Reilly – Ennis
Moulson – Eichel – Gionta probably
And the rest of those names in some sort of order.
Goal: Robin Lehner