Game #26

Buffalo Sabres (9-10-6) vs. Edmonton Oilers (14-10-3)

Puck drop: 7:00 p.m. EST | KeyBank Center | Buffalo, NY

TV: MSG, SNW | Radio: WGR 550

SB Nation’s Oilers Blog: Copper & Blue

Two Questions

1. Will McDavid dominate Buffalo like he did last year?

The NHL’s leading scorer comes to Buffalo tonight, and the last time McDavid was in town, he scored both goals in a 2-1 Edmonton win. He has 34 points in 27 games this season, and has taken the next step towards challenging for the title of “Best Player in the NHL.”

The Sabres and their banged-up defense will have their hands full with McDavid, who’s combination of speed and skill is unrivaled in the NHL today. Connor hasn’t registered a point in two games, so you know he’ll be itching to get back on the score sheet, especially with his Eichel on the other side.

2. Speaking of Eichel, will he show any ill effects from his ankle non-re-injury?

For 30 seconds yesterday, Buffalo Twitter almost burned itself to the ground when Eichel gingerly skated back to the bench and the TV cameras caught him writhing in pain on the bench.

Thankfully, he played the rest of the game and says he’s feeling great for tonight’s game. We’ll be keeping an eye on his acceleration and quickness tonight, and for any other lingering effects of his recovery from a high ankle sprain that kept him out for the first meeting between these two teams, a 6-2 drubbing of the Oilers in Edmonton.

Projected BUF Lines

48 William Carrier – 90 Ryan O’Reilly – 21 Kyle Okposo
9 Evander Kane – 15 Jack Eichel – 23 Sam Reinhart
82 Marcus Foligno – 22 Johan Larsson – 12 Brian Gionta
26 Matt Moulson – 27 Derek Grant – 28 Zemgus Girgensons

29 Jake McCabe – 55 Rasmus Ristolainen
45 Brendan Guhle – 6 Cody Franson
41 Justin Falk – 46 Erik Burgdoerfer

Goal: 31 Anders Nilsson