The Wheels Have Been Coming Off for the Wings
Buffalo Sabres (44-20-8) vs Detroit Red Wings (38-25-8)
Puck Drop: 7:00 pm ET | Keybank Center | Buffalo, New York
TV: NHL Network (out of market), MSG-B (local market)
Radio: WGR 550
Know Your Opponent
Detroit Red Wings
Record: 38-25-8 | 84 PTS
Last Game: Lost 3-2 to Ottawa
Division Ranking: 6th in the Atlantic Division
PP: 14th, 21.8% (Sabres: 16th, 21.0%)
PK: 24th, 77.8% (Sabres: 5th, 82.1%)
What to Watch
1. Back on Track
The Buffalo Sabres have played back to back games were they were clearly not their best. Defensive breakdowns, bad penalties, below average numbers from the goaltending. Yet both times they stormed back to take a 3rd period lead, then lost that lead and eventually fell in overtime. What does that mean? Well several things actually, many open to interpretation. Firstly, the team has been averaging four games a week for over three weeks now. The condensed, jam-packed schedule has been tough on everyone. They also just returned home from a successful four game west coast trip. There is something to be said for that first game back home with struggles/road hangover. It’s also a long season. Even the best of the best teams go through cold spells. offensive droughts and defensive breakdowns.
At this point, it is way to early to hit the panic button. Still, we would all like to see the team return to their winning ways, starting tonight. The good news with this two game skid is the OT points they collected. They moved from 94 to 96 points without a victory and every point matters at this stage. Buffalo currently sits tied with Carolina in overall points for top team in the Eastern Conference. Tampa sits just 2 points back of the Sabres with a game in hand. The Blue and Gold will be hard pressed to fend off the Lighting until the end of the regular season. These three teams are in the driver’s seat right now but nothing is guaranteed. Everyone and their brother take up the back seat and they are jockeying for position and playing for their postseason lives.
2. Little Things Mean a Lot
Alex Tuch missed a game on the recent road trip with an illness and he has not looked in top form since. His game has been filled with turnovers and breakdowns, many of which have lead to immediate goals against. Mattias Samuelsson also came up ill when returning home to Buffalo after the west coast swing. He didn’t miss any time but he didn’t look himself either. The Boston game wasn’t his best outing, that much was certain. Hopefully both players shake the funk of being sick because there are some lingering concerns neither is at 100 percent.
Also concerning for this team right now is who is playing and who is not. It seems like the Sabres should be icing their best team as they forge ahead to break the playoff drought. Instead, they appear to be tinkering with the bottom six, looking for the perfect pairing and best runner-ups as well. While I understand that line of thinking, for the most part, you really should dance with the girl you brought to the prom. Zach Metsa should be a fixture on the bottom pairing until further notice. They win when he plays and he is unspectacularly rock solid. The others can rotate in and out, depending on the opponent. That includes Michael Kesselring, unless he is limited from his injury. Oddly enough, that seems to be a possibility, even though he has not been listed on the injury report in weeks.
Update: On Thursday afternoon, the Sabres inexplicably loaned Zach Metsa back to Rochester for an unknown period of time. Conor Timmins, returning with his strong penalty killing abilities, seems to take precedence with the team. Buffalo does have an overabundance of Dmen available to play the bottom pair. Logan Stanley brings size and physicality, Timmins brings physical play too along with being a strong penalty killer. In my view though, they just sent the most dependable defenseman away. I understand that Metsa is the only defender that can be shuffled around right now and he will certainly get more playing time with the Amerks. Still, this move is perplexing to me. His ridiculously steady play for the Sabres doesn’t seem to be enough for him to stick with the logjam of defenders on the roster. Remember, Metsa hasn’t been on the ice for a goal against with Buffalo since October. Let that sink in…OCTOBER!
The first time the current bottom pair is on the ice for an even strength goal against, well, I’m an “I told you so” kind of guy. Hopefully Metsa makes a return soon.
Feb 27, 2026; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Buffalo Sabres defenseman Zach Metsa (73) moves the puck against the Florida Panthers during the second period at Amerant Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
3. Clean Sweep?
Buffalo has won the first two games of the season series with their division rivals. Back in October, Jack Quinn had a goal and two assists as the Sabres downed Detroit 4-2 at Keybank Center. Then in November, Mattias Samuelsson scored in OT to secure the win for Buffalo in Motown by a 5-4 score.
The Sabres will be going for the clean sweep tonight as they look to get back in the win column. From the coaches and players to the fans themselves, nobody wants to see the winless streak reach three. No seeds of doubt, no building frustration, just take care of business like they have been for weeks. Like they have been for months, actually. Work hard and get some solid goaltending again and things should fall back into place.
Zach Benson leads the Sabres with 6 points in his last 5 games. Benny has been getting chances and cashing in, working hard as always. For the WIngs, Alex DeBrincat is leading the way, with 9 points in his last 5 games. (2-7-9) Somebody on each line for Buffalo needs to stay on him, make covering DeBrincat a priority. Detroit has been stumbling and tumbling for several weeks now. Will the Sabres get that troubled team or a desperate squad going all in?
Update: Head coach Lindy Ruff said Noah Ostlund is a possibility to play tonight as he is listed as day to day with a minor injury.
Projected Lineups
Buffalo Sabres
Forwards:
Benson – Thompson – Tuch
Zucker – McLeod – Quinn
Krebs – Norris – Doan
Kosak – Carrick – Malenstyn
*Ostlund listed as possible
Defense:
Samuelsson – Dahlin
Byram – Power
Stanley – Timmins
Goalies:
Lyon, Luukkonen
Detroit Red Wings
Forwards:
Finnie – Larkin – Raymond
DeBrincat – Copp – Kane
Perron – Compher – Appleton
van Riemsdyk – Kasper – Shine
Defense:
Edvinsson – Seider
Chiarot – Faulk
Johansson – Bernard-Docker
Goalies:
Gibson, Postava
Related