For the second time in three nights, and the third time in a week, the New Jersey Devils will face off against the Buffalo Sabres. Usually, quick turn arounds are a good thing after a loss. If you have to face a team that defeated you twice in the past week then that might be a different story. Although the rivalry between the two might not be as great as the Devils and those that play just over the Hudson River, the games have been anything but friendly.
This lowly Sabres squad struggles against other teams. Yet, they still find a way to beat the Devils. Buffalo has won two of the three meeting between them so far this year. The Devils find themselves on a three-game losing streak. This streak started with their loss against Buffalo last Saturday.
Keys To Victory:
Penalty Kill:
Okay, the penalty kill wasn’t entirely to blame for their loss on Tuesday, as the Devils only allowed one goal while shorthanded. Still, we look back on a Sunday when it was the penalty kill that was pretty much the main reason for the loss. Hopefully, Thursday isn’t a repeat of that.
Get to Linus Ullmark:
Linus Ullmark is usually an okay goalie, but against the Devils he plays like the best Buffalo goalie since Ryan Miller. Sure, that had something to do with the fact New Jersey hasn’t played competitive hockey against Buffalo, but Ullmark has had his fair share of highlight reel saves too.
Considering there was a day off in between games, Buffalo is probably going with Ullmark yet again. He’s their best bet for victory against us.
Be The First To Score:
Wouldn’t it be nice if the New Jersey Devils scored first every game? In the Devils prior four meetings with the Sabres, New Jersey’s only victory saw them score first. When the Devils had a solid first period, outshooting the Sabres on Tuesday, but came away without a goal. You knew that was going to be a problem.
Players to Watch
Nico Hischier:
The Devils’ newly minted captain hasn’t looked like himself since returning from injury. Then again, it’s only been three games after not playing hockey for over a year. The fans lack of patience is understandable, but I can’t hold it entirely against Hischier. Once he finds his form it’ll be worth it.
Even if he doesn’t return to 100 per cent he will still be an impact player. Hischier had a season high 18-48 of ice time last time out. Hischier hasn’t recorded a point yet, or even had a game with a plus-minus over zero.
Sam Reinhart:
Victor Olofsson has been a problem for the Devils, but so has Sam Reinhart. Reinhart has had multiple point games in Buffalo’s past two wins against the Devils. Reinhart is the closest he’s been to a point-per-game player (13 points in 14 games) in his career. With the Buffalo Sabres being the Buffalo Sabres though, he’s still a minus-10.
Pavel Zacha:
Pavel Zacha went into Monday’s game on a six-game point streak. Thanks to another “garbage-time” Nikita Gusev goal, that point streak continued.
The most interesting part was Zacha, surprisingly, found a place on the top line. It might have something to do with the teams lack of depth on left wing, but perhaps head coach Lindy Ruff is seeing something more in Zacha. Maybe Zacha will repay the team with a reason to keep him on that top line.
Projected Lineups
Buffalo Sabres
Forwards:
Olofsson-Eichel-Reinhardt
Hall-Staal-Cozens
Asplund-Eakin-Okposo
Mittelstadt-Lazar-Sheahan
Defenseman:
Dahlin-Montour
Irwin-Miller
Bryson-Jukiharju
Goaltenders:
Ullmark, Hutton
New Jersey Devils
Forwards:
Zacha-Hischier-Bratt
Johnsson-Hughes-Palmieri
Sharangovich-Zajac-Gusev
Wood-McLeod-Bastian
Defenseman:
Smith-Severson
Murray-Butcher
Kulikov-Vantanen
Goaltenders:
Blackwood, Dell
Prediction
New Jersey takes this one three-to-two. They can’t keep losing to this same team. Especially with how continuously they are playing against them. Hopefully, the Devils break the losing streak tonight.