Game #75
Buffalo Sabres (20-45-9) vs. New Jersey Devils (32-28-15)
TV – MSG, Bell | Radio – WGR 550 – AM
SB Nation Devils Blog – In Lou We Trust
Three Questions
1. Can Cody Hodgson build on his strong outing last game?
Ted Nolan called Hodgson’s game on Saturday one of the best he’s seen from the young center. The fact that he was playing with Zemgus Girgensons probably had more to do with that than the fact he was playing wing, but can Hodgson continue his strong play tonight against New Jersey?
2. What’s up with Ville Leino’s light-headedness?
Leino suffered a very specific type of migraine during his last game where your eyes and brain are functioning on dealy, and things (vision, muscles, feeling) don’t operate as quickly as they should. Obviously, this sounds awful for such a fast-paced, unpredictable game like hockey, but Leino said that his doctors told him it’s fairly common for adults ages 20-40, and that the symptoms should pass quickly. Let’s hope so.
3. Will Nolan’s new full-time gig give the players some extra jump?
Nolan’s contract extension was universally praised inside the Sabres locker room, and it seems like most everyone on the roster, rookies and veterans alike, are fond of Nolan and his coaching style. Will they play any harder knowing that Nolan will be around next year? I’m not sure, but the added accountability might motivate a few feet to move faster.
Projected BUF lines
Conacher – Ennis – Stafford
Hodgson – Girgensons – Flynn
Foligno – Larsson – D’Agostini
Scott – Ellis – Leino
Ehrhoff – Ristolainen
Tallinder – Ruhwedel
Weber – McBain
Goal: Matt Hackett
Scratches/Injuries: Deslaruiers, Myers, Konopka, Stewart, Sulzer, Enroth, Neuvirth