Both teams are coming off 7-0 losses, but which team shakes off the loss and makes corrections will likely walk away with two points.
The Nashville Predators take the ice tonight at KeyBank Center as they face the 33-30-6 Buffalo Sabres. Both teams suffered 7-0 losses against Stanley Cup contending teams in their last games - the Sabres fell to the Boston Bruins while Nashville was soundly beaten by the New York Rangers. Tonight's outcome may boil down to which team can shake off that last game and take the ice ready to look ahead.
Buffalo Sabres
The Sabres surprised many in the Eastern Conference after finding their footing in successful stretch runs in December, January, and February. Tage Thompson, Alex Tuch, and Jeff Skinner lead the team in points and goals, but Buffalo's stretches of wins can also be attributed to depth players like Kyle Okposo, Casey Mittelstadt, and Victor Olofsson. Despite a sometimes struggling defense, goaltenders Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Craig Anderson have settled into their roles.
Tage Thompson celebrates a goal. March has been a different story for the Sabres, though. Buffalo didn't make any significant moves at the trade deadline, and after going 2-6-2 this month, the lack of action may affect their surprising playoff potential. The Sabres' schedule hasn't been and won't be easy down the stretch, something the Predators can certainly relate to.
Nashville Predators
Just a few games ago, the Nashville Predators were in a position to control their own playoff destiny, but a difficult schedule and a host of injuries may irrevocably end that opportunity. Captain and leading points scorer Roman Josi left the Winnipeg Jets game with an upper body injury and hasn't traveled with the team to New York. He joins Filip Forsberg, Ryan Johansen, Juuso Pärssinen, and Alexandre Carrier on a lengthy injury list that has depleted the roster and affected the team's playoff chances. There is a chance Ryan McDonagh could return to the lineup tonight which would be a big boost for the defense.
Ryan McDonaghKeys to the Game
1. Stay out of the box. The Sabres rank fifth on the power play, and although they have been slightly less effective on the man advantage in March, the Predators need to keep play at five on five. Nashville has a confident penalty killing unit, but Tage Thompson has 18 power play goals and 31 power play points, and the Preds don't need to give Thompson and the Buffalo power play any opportunity.
2. Protect the net front. Buffalo is adept at scoring those greasy goals so the Predators will need to help their goaltender clear the puck down low. A potential return of McDonagh boosts the defense, but the rest of the team must keep Buffalo out of the quality chance areas. Both Saros and Lankinen are coming off of challenging games, and they deserve a whole team effort in front of them tonight.
3. Capitalize on rush chances. Young players like Luke Evangelista, Phil Tomasino, Cody Glass, and Tommy Novak may be able to create chances off the rush tonight.
Luke EvangelistaNashville has had trouble recently getting through the neutral zone with speed, but if they can clean up that part of their game, the young guns could create quality offensive chances. Veteran Matt Duchene needs to be a part of the offensive production regardless of how those chances unfold tonight.
How to Watch
The Predators take on the Sabres tonight at 6:00 pm CST. Bally Sports South will have the broadcast while 102.5 The Game will carry the radio call.
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