Buffalo Sabres (42-20-6) at San Jose Sharks (32-28-6)

Puck Drop: 10:00 PM | SAP Center | San Jose, CA

TV: MSG-B, ESPN+

Radio: WGR 550

Know Your Opponent

San Jose Sharks

Record: 32-28-6 | 70 PTS

Division Ranking: 6th in Pacific Division

Last Game: 5-3 Loss vs Edmonton Oilers

PP: 18th (19.9%) | Sabres Rank: 17th (20.5%)

PK: 5th (78.8%) | Sabres Rank: 3rd (83.2%)

What to Watch

1. Historic Road Point Streak

After not winning in regulation until December this season, the Sabres set a franchise record 11 game road point streak with their win against Vegas on Tuesday. This is an incredible turnaround in a bi-polar season for Buffalo. They have a chance to extend it against San Jose, who they defeated in Buffalo 6-3 a week and a half ago. The Sharks are fighting for a wild card spot in the West and currently sit one point behind the Kraken and Kings. They will be desperate team and a tough road matchup.

2. Sophomore Explosion

The Sharks season stat sheet is hilarious. While the team has certainly exceeded expectations, Macklin Celebrini has blown his expectations out of the water. He leads the team in goals, assists, points, and plus minus. He has an absurd 50 point lead on Will Smith who has the second most points on the year for San Jose. The key to success against the Sharks is simple: contain Celebrini. It won’t be easy with San Jose having the last change, but Lindy Ruff will be utilizing Daling and Samuelsson against Celebrini’s line whenever possible. They only have one regulation win in a game that Celebrini has registered a point in.

3. Bottom Pair Shuffle

The Sabres are clearly testing their bottom pair for what combination works best in the playoffs. Recently we’ve seen:

Stanley with Kesselring: looked fine

Stanley with Schenn: disappointing to say the least

Stanley with Metsa: solid game against Vegas

It’s unclear what pairing will get the nod against San Jose. They aren’t a team known to take liberties against opposing players so the need to force Schenn in the lineup is reduced. Metsa has proven a reliable bottom pair player, so he’ll likely be in. It remains to be seen if Kesselring will get another look or if Stanley keeps his place. Regardless, the effectiveness of the bottom pair is crutial to relieving some of the burden off the outstanding, albeit overworked, top 4.

Projected Lineups

Buffalo Sabres

Forwards

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

Defense

Samuelsson – Dahlin
Byram – Power
Stanley – Metsa

Starter: Lyon

San Jose Sharks

Forwards

Graf – Celebrini – Smith
Eklund – Misa – Toffoli
Regenda – Wennberg – Sherwood
Goodrow – Ostapchuk – Gaudette

Defense

Orlov – Klingberg
Ferraro – Desharnais
Dickinson – Leddy

Starter: Nedeljkovic

Related