Hmmm, well, this is definitely gonna be a battle,
I am going to stick with that lineup VanI, especially because I feel I have the advantage in special teams, I think I can afford to keep Tiger in the series, not to mention that keeping Tiger in the series tilts the toughness scale ever so slightly to my side IMO.
In terms of the PP/PK, they will be staying that way, however, when in need of a goal at any point during a game, Pete Green will not be afraid to load up the top unit and go with Kerr-Trottier-Jagr-Gadsby-Federko to create as much offense and possible. Also, I think my top PK unit is one of the best in the draft, Meagher-Sutter-Langway-McCrimmon are all fantastic defensively and I feel they stand a better chance of shutting down the top Sabres PP unit than Tkaczuk-Kallur-Dupont-Morrow do of shutting down the top (or loaded up) Mets PP.
In terms of even strength, I think these are fairly similar teams, the top lines are fairly similar, though I feel that I have more offense from my top line, even after obviously down grading their offensive stats, they still have a relative dominance that was bigger than that of the Sabres top line. For example, while Perreault and Trottier are relatively similar goal scorers, Trottier was a far superior set-up man IMO, 8 times in the top ten in assists, including two assist crowns while Perreault only managed 5 top tens and maxed out at 3rd place, I think Trott's was the better passer and I believe he has better scorers on his wings, Goulet is vastly superior to Gillies offensively, though Gillies is obviously in his role to bring things that he does so well, but I think Kerr can bring similar elements to the Mets top line (though his won't drop the gloves so much obviously) also, I think Kerr while short-peak had a higher peak than Cournoyer who topped out with a 4th place in goals, Kerr finished 2nd once and 3rd twice. Also, Trottier was a solid player both ways and can keep Perreault in check in the offensive zone.
I believe I also have an edge in second line scoring, obviously Jagr was dominant in his prime, but I believe Federko is severly underrated (much like Ratelle, who was the deciding factor for the Sabres in their last series IMO) and combined with the perhaps the best pure LW of the pre-NHL era (and probably the one who got arrested the most) I believe they bring more offense than the Ratelle line, even with Lemieux stepping up in the POs.
I think these two things will make up offensively for the definite edge that the Tkaczuk line has offensively on the Sutter line, though I agree with VanI, that I have an offensive edge on the bottom line/spares while the reverse is true for the defense in favour of the Sabres.
In terms of the defense (and just overall) Shore is obviously the biggest weapon in the series, certainly a top 3 all time defenseman (number 2 in my books), but I think with my array of defensive defenseman that I can begin to strangle the offense of the Sabres, Gadsby/McCrimmon will lock down the top line with time against the second, Langway/Stanley will play against the second and fourth lines, while Ludwig/Patrick will have the special task of stopping the offense of the Sabres third line.
In net, I think it is pretty close, tough to call. I think I have the edge in coaching though, while Ruff is likely in the top 3 of coaches in the past 10 years, and perhaps the best current coach, he still has never won like Pete Green has.
After the last one, I don't know if my heart can take another close series, but I am guessing it will be. Best of luck reck.