Boston Bruins (39-22-8) at Buffalo Sabres (40-19-6)

Puck Drop: 7:30 PM | KeyBank Center | Buffalo, New York

TV: TNT/HBO Max

Radio: WGR 550

Know Your Opponent

Boston Bruins

Record: 39-24-8 | 86 PTS

Division Ranking: 4th in Atlantic Division

Last Game: 4-2 Loss vs Maple Leafs

PP: 8th (23.7%) | Sabres Rank: 16th (20.4%)

PK: 25th (77.3%) | Sabres Rank: 6th (81.9%)

What to Watch

1. Schedule Grind

The Sabres and Bruins will be dealing with different aspects of a tough schedule. The Bruins are on the second half of the back-to-back after falling to the Leafs at home last night. Buffalo has had a couple days off but are returning from a week on the west coast. The first game back home after a long road trip can often lead to sluggish play early while the team finds its legs. Conversely, teams on back-to-backs often start strong before fatigue sets in as the game wears on. If this happens, Buffalo will need to survive Boston’s early push and take advantage of their growing fatigue later in the game.

2. Playoff Implications

The Eastern Conference playoff race is as tight as it’s ever been. There are 6 teams within 3 points of each other and only 4 spots to go around. At least two of the Blue Jackets, Penguins, and Islanders will make it due to the division format, but the Bruins have a tougher hill to climb. The Bruins sit in 4th in the Atlantic, two points behind Montreal for 3rd, and one more game played than the Canadians. They currently only have a one-point lead on the Senators and Islanders who are the last team in and first team out respectively. Boston will be desperate to collect points to keep their tenuous playoff position. Conversely, the Sabres are one point out of first in the conference and lead the Atlantic with a two-point lead on Tampa Bay. However, the Lightning have a game in hand so the lead can disappear quickly. Home ice has been an advantage for Buffalo all year, and they will want to continue the advantage in the postseason.

3. Benny’s Heating Up

Zach Benson may be the youngest player on the Sabres roster, but he is vital to the forward group. His awareness, vision, and tenacity are a benefit to whichever line he’s on. Recently, Lindy Ruff has been flipping him and Krebs between the first and 4th lines. Benson hasn’t missed a beat as he’s currently on a three-game point streak with 5 points in those three games. Outside of the scoreboard, his hunter mentality on the forecheck blends perfectly with Carrick and Malenstyn. That trio gives Buffalo a true threat and balances the forward group. Now Ruff can roll lines and prevent wearing out the top 6. If Benson can keep this up, Buffalo will be a matchup nightmare for opponents.

Projected Lineups

Buffalo Sabres

Forwards

Krebs – Thompson – Tuch
Zucker – McLeod – Quinn
Ostlund – Norris – Doan
Benson – Carrick – Malenstyn

Defense

Samuelsson* – Dahlin
Byram – Power
Stanley – Timmins

Starter: Luukkonen

(Samuelsson will be a game-time decision with an illness)

Boston Bruins

Forwards

Khusnutdinov – Minten – Pastrnak
Mittelstadt – Zacha – Arvidsson
Reichel – E.Lindholm – Geekie
Jeannot – Kuraly – Kastelic

Defense

Aspirot – McAvoy
Lindholm – Lohrei
Zadorov – Jokiharju

Starter: Korpisalo

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