Buffalo Sabres (49-23-8) at Chicago Blackhawks (28-38-14)
Puck Drop: 7:30 PM | United Center | Chicago, IL
TV: MSG-B, ESPN+
Radio: WGR 550
Know Your Opponent
Chicago Blackhawks
Record: 28-38-14 | 70 PTS
Division Ranking: 8th in Central Division
Last Game: 5-3 Loss vs St. Louis Blues
PP: 28th (17.5%) | Sabres Rank: 18th (19.9%)
PK: 2nd (83.6%) | Sabres Rank: 6th (81.6%)
What to Watch
1. Clinching Scenarios
The Sabres have had a superb season with an opportunity to make it particular. They have an opportunity to clinch residence ice within the first spherical and doubtlessly the division tonight.
- They safe residence ice in spherical one of many playoffs in the event that they win in any vogue or
- Lose in OT/Shootout and the Lightning lose in regulation.
The two divisional clinching eventualities are as follows
- Sabres win in any vogue and Lightning lose in any vogue or
- Sabres win in regulation and Lightning win in OT/Shootout
There will probably be important scoreboard watching by followers, however the easiest method to usher in the playoff run with residence ice benefit is to win tonight.
2. How the Turntables
The Blackhawks are a group with nothing to lose. They are final of their division by 10 factors and are doubtless reserving tee instances later this week. However, a group with nothing to lose is a wild card. The strain is off, they usually can play free. There will probably be gamers preventing for contracts who will deal with the previous few video games like their life deepens on it. The Sabres want a superb begin to curb any enthusiasm or optimism their opponents may get off an early lead. The Sabres are solely too acquainted with how groups out of it may shock playoff groups. Fortunately, they’re on the playoff group aspect of the equation this yr.
3. Even Distribution
With the playoffs secured and residential ice inside attain, the Sabres could be smart to roll all traces in opposition to the Blackhawks. They have an amazing incentive to win tonight primarily based on the clinching eventualities, however this isn’t an evening somebody like Dahlin must be taking part in for half-hour. Ice time must be unfold out to make sure everyone seems to be contemporary and prepared for the playoffs. The teaching workers will probably be smart to not burn out their prime performers tonight.
Projected Lineups
Buffalo Sabres
Forwards
Krebs – Thompson – Tuch
Benson – Norris – Doan
Zucker – McLeod – Quinn
Greenway – Kozak – Malenstyn
Defense
Samuelsson – Dahlin
(*81*) – Power
Stanley – Metsa
Starter: Luukkonen
Chicago Blackhawks
Forwards
Greene – Bedard – Lardis
Bertuzzi – Frondell – Mikheyev
Donato – Nazar – Burakovsky
Mangiapane – Boisvert – Teravainen
Defense
Vlasic – Crevier
Kaiser – Rinzel
Korchinski – Lafferty
Starter: Knight
