Wild-Buffalo game preview
January 12, 2016 at 5:04AM
Preview: For the third consecutive season, the Wild plays the Sabres in Game 43. It is 2-0 in those games and is 6-1-2 in the past nine games against the Sabres, outscoring them 33-18. Jack Eichel and the Sabres, who have the second-fewest points in the NHL, ended a six-game losing streak Sunday with a 4-2 win in Winnipeg. The Wild is 2-3-1 in its past six home games. The Sabres have won three of their past five road games.
Players to watch: Goalie Devan Dubnyk's Wild debut came during last year's 7-0 win at Buffalo on Jan. 14. Since, he is 45-20-6 with a 2.02 goals-against average, .929 save percentage and nine shutouts. That's second in wins and goals-against average and tied for second in save percentage over that stretch. LW Zach Parise has five goals in the past four games. Former Sabres captain Jason Pominville has no points in nine games since Dec. 22 and is on pace for 9.7 goals. Sabres C Sam Reinhart's hat trick in Winnipeg was the first by a Sabres rookie since Pominville against Los Angeles on Jan. 14, 2006. Former Avs center Ryan O'Reilly is tied for 13th in the NHL with 17 goals. Eichel is fourth among NHL rookies with 27 points.
Numbers: The Wild is 1-for-22 on power plays in the past 12 games and ranks 21st in the NHL at 17.9 percent. The Sabres rank 27th on the penalty kill at 76.8 percent.
Injuries: Wild defenseman Nate Prosser (hand) is questionable. Sabres C Cody McCormick (blood clots), C Tyler Ennis (upper body) and LW Nicolas Deslauriers (lower body) are out.
Michael Russo
about the writer
Problems that might have led to a loss in the past are merely complications that the team is overcoming this season, as was true again Friday against Tampa Bay.
