Game 29
Buffalo Sabres (6-17-4) vs. Boston Bruins (15-8-4)
Puck Drop: 7:00 PM EST | KeyBank Center | Buffalo, NY
TV: MSG
Radio: WGR 550
SB Nation Bruins Blog: Stanley Cup of Chowder
Know Your Opponent
Boston Bruins
Record: 15-8-4
Last 10: 4-4-2
Division Ranking: 4th in East Division
PP: 12th (24.1%)
PK: 1st (89.2%)
What to Watch
1. Hockey Fights Cancer
While Saturday’s game is the first game at KeyBank Center since COVID-19 for the general public, tonight’s game is for the seven hundred front-line workers from Roswell Park Comprehensive Center who have worked tirelessly for our health and safety this past year. The organization will also be honoring those who have suffered or been affected by cancer as it will be Hockey Fights Cancer Night. Throughout the game and through various social media outlets, Buffalo will fundraise and donate all of its efforts to Roswell. Lavender jerseys will be worn during practice and auctioned off following the final buzzer of the game. Perhaps the Sabres can squeeze in a game worth watching for these workers, too.
2. Goodbye, Krueger!
After a long losing streak of 12 painful-to-watch games, Head Coach Ralph Krueger has finally been relieved of his duties with the Sabres. Assistant Steve Smith was fired as well.
This streak is the third-worst in franchise history and, after missing the playoffs for 10 years (including this season), fans have had enough of this nonsense. While the next coach to get the job permanently is still a question mark, assistant coach Don Granato has stepped in temporarily. It will be interesting to see how the players respond to this change.
Since Jack Eichel’s draft year, the star center – currently out with a neck injury – has played under four coaches and three general managers. Let’s hope the next one sticks and can turn this sad team around. The pressure is on for the Pegulas to choose wisely.
3. Time to Start Scoring
It is no secret that the Sabres have not been scoring this season. They are at a pitiful 2.07 average for goals per game and quite frankly, it is time to clean this up. You can have the best defense and goaltender in the league (which Buffalo definitely does not) and still not win games based on that average. Another issue? Boston has the best penalty kill in the league, so it will be very difficult to score with the man-advantage if Buffalo gets the opportunity. This will surely be an interesting matchup as these two teams have not played each other since December 2019.
Projected Lineups*
Sabres
Forwards
Tobias Rieder – Eric Staal – Sam Reinhart
Taylor Hall – Riley Sheahan – Tage Thompson
Victor Olofsson – Cody Eakin – Kyle Okposo
Jeff Skinner – Curtis Lazar – Casey Mittelstadt
Defense
Brandon Davidson – Rasmus Ristolainen
Henri Jokiharju – Brandon Montour
Rasmus Dahlin – Colin Miller
Starting Goaltender: Carter Hutton (expected)
Bruins
Forwards
Brad Marchand – Patrice Bergeron – David Pastrnak
Jake DeBrusk – David Krejci – Craig Smith
Nick Ritchie – Charlie Coyle – Oskar Steen
Trent Frederic – Sean Kuraly – Karson Kuhlman
Defense
Matt Grzelcyk – Charlie McAvoy
Jakub Zboril – Connor Clifton
Jarred Tinordi – Steven Kampfer
Starting Goaltender: Jaroslav Halak (expected)
*Projected lineups are based on each team’s previous game or most recent practice. Today’s pregame skate was canceled due to a Bruins player and Sabres staff member entering COVID-19 protocol this morning.