Game: Detroit Red Wings (28-38-10) @ Buffalo Sabres (31-36-9)
When: Thursday. March 28th, 2019
Where: KeyBank Arena
Time: 7:00 PM EST
TV: Foxs Sports Detroit
Radio: WXYT-FM 97.1 The Ticket DTW Flagship Station
Wings Top Performers
Scorers
Andreas Athanasiou: 29G/20A/49P
Dylan Larkin: 28G/36A/64P
Anthony Mantha: 19G/17A/36P
Leaders
Points: Dylan Larkin: 64P
Goals: Andreas Athanasiou: 29G
Assists: Dylan Larkin: 36A
Goalies
Jimmy Howard: 20-20-5, .908 SV%, 3.02 GAA
Jonathan Bernier: 8-18-5, .902 SV%, 3.23 GAA
Know Your Enemy
Scorers
Jeff Skinner: 37G/22A/59P
Jack Eichel: 26G/49A/75P
Sam Reinhart: 20G/41A/61P
Leaders
Points: Jack Eichel: 75P
Goals: Jeff Skinner: 37G
Assists: Jack Eichel: 49A
Goalies
Linus Ullmark: 14-13-4, .906 SV%, 3.09GAA
Carter Hutton: 17-23-5, .909 SV%, 2.57GAA
Overview
The seemingly impossible has happened. Detroit prepares to face a team tonight that has been looking a lot worse than themselves. Like The Red Wings, the Buffalo Sabres are officially eliminated from a playoff spot in this season’s Stanley Cup. Unlike Detroit (at least as of late), Buffalo has lost their last four in a row and are a mere 1-10-1 in their previous 11 games.
Those statistics bad enough on their own, but the Sabres have also been held scoreless four times in their last nine games.
On the opposite side of the spectrum, Detroit has done exceedingly well in their last five games, with a record of 4-1-0. They will be going into this game looking to secure a third win in a row, a rarity this season. This little win streak for Detroit comes after having gone 1-9-3 in their previous 13 games.
The Wings have been knocked down a lot this season, but leave it to the end for them to pick themselves right back up. Neither team needs, nor wants, two points tonight considering the draft, but someone will come out on top.
Projected Starter
Detroit’s projected starter in net tonight is Jimmy Howard. Howard has been looking pretty good late in this season, having won 3 of his last five starts. His previous start was a 3-2 win in Las Vegas where he stopped 28 of the 30 pucks that came his way. Before that was another, rather impressive win against the New York Rangers where he did not allow any goals for the first two periods and made 41 saves off of 43 shots of the game. Jimmy Howard has had an inconsistent season but has been good in his past few games, helping the Red Wings end this rough season on a high(ish) note.
Buffalo’s projected starter in net tonight is Linus Ullmark. As the Sabres have had a rough stretch of games so has their goaltenders. Ullmark is winless in his past five starts and has not had a win since the first of this month in their 4-3 victory over Pittsburg.
Players to Watch
Red Wings
http://gty.im/1135570556
The Wing to watch tonight is center and goal leader Andreas Athanasiou. He has five goals and two assists, equating 7 points in his past five games and is a mere one goal away from reaching an NHL career high of 30 goals. AA has been on fire during the Red Wings hot streak, and with the opportunity to surpass his career easily within reach, it is safe to say we’ll be seeing a motivated player looking for any opportunities to get that puck in the net.
Taro Hirose also has four points through four career NHL games, recording an assist in each of the four games he's played so far. Keep an eye out for Hirose to possibly score his fifth point tonight.
Sabers
Jack Eichel has a strong history playing the Red Wing at the KeyBank Center with six points in six games (3 goals and three assists). His record in the Sabres for the past five games is less noteworthy, with 3 points, but given the Sabres record, it is surely not the worst on the team. Eichel is one point away from 100 in his NHL career, and tonight he may be looking for something to lift the Sabres morale, even if it isn’t a win.
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