SJinNewJersey
Every single one of us, the devil inside
There are so many different scenarios for the playoff matchups and seedings.
But for tonight
Sorry Buffalo, your time is coming, but it's not tonight.
But for tonight
Sorry Buffalo, your time is coming, but it's not tonight.
PREVIEW
DEVILS (50-21-8) vs. SABRES (40-32-7)TV: 7:00 p.m. ET; Televised on MSGSN
RADIO: 7:00 p.m. ET; Live on Devils Hockey Network
Head-to-Head:
The Devils face Buffalo for the third and final time this season. The two previous contests took part in Buffalo with the team's splitting. New Jersey won, 3-1, on Nov. 25 while the Sabres triumphed, 5-4, two-plus weeks ago on Mach 24.
Jack Hughes leads all skaters in goals (3) and points (4) in the season series. Alex Tuch scored two goals in the previous contest and has three points in the season series.
Devils Team Scope:
The Devils are fighting for the top spot in the Metro Division, trailing Carolina by one point. New Jersey is at the same time trying to fend off the New York Rangers for home-ice advantage in a possible First Round matchup. New Jersey holds the No. 2 with a one-point edge on New York (with one game in hand for the Devils).
Center Jack Hughes leads the club with 42 goals and 96 points - tying Patrik Elias (2000-01) for the single season franchise record. He has a six-game point streak for 10 (2g-8a). Defenseman Dougie Hamilton has set career highs offensively with 21 goals, 52 assists and 73 points. He is six points behind Scott Stevens for the single-season franchise record by a blueliner.
Forward Timo Meier scored twice against the Blue Jackets, giving him 40 goals on the year (his first 40-goal campaign). He has nine goals and 13 points in 19 games since being acquired by San Jose. Hughes (42), Meier (40), Jesper Bratt (32) and Nico Hischier (31) give the Devils four 30-plus goal men.
Goaltender Vitek Vanecek posted a career-best 32 wins with a 2.46 goals-against average and .910 save percentage.
Sabres Team Scope:
Miraculously the Sabres have kept themselves alive in the playoff hunt, although a steep, steep hill is ahead. Buffalo needs to collect at least five points in their final three games in the hopes of jumping into the postseason and would need help in the form of losses to the New York Islanders and Pittsburgh Penguins.
Buffalo helped its own cause Monday night with a 3-2 shootout victory at Madison Square Garden against the Rangers. The Islanders' 5-2 setback to Washington Monday keeps hope burning for the Sabres.
Buffalo's biggest strength is its goal scoring, which ranks third in the NHL with 3.59 goals per game. Tage Thompson continues his offensive offensive with 46 goals and 93 points. The Sabres have four 30-goal scorers with Thompson, Alex Tuch (35), Jeff Skinner (33) and Dylan Cozens (31). From the blue line, Rasmus Dahlin had a breakout campaign and is showing the promise that made him the No. 1 overall pick in 2018. He ranks in the top-6 in the NHL in every category for a defenseman with 15 goals (6th-t), 57 assists (5th) and 72 points (4th-t).
The Devils will likely see Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen in goal with Devon Levi having started against the Rangers. Luukkonen picked up the win the previous meeting between the two teams and is 17-11-4 on the season.
By the Numbers:
New Jersey seeks its 51st win of the season, which would tie a franchise record set in the 2008-09 season. A win would also give New Jersey 111 points which ties a franchise mark from 2000-01. The Devils will have two opportunities remaining.
The Sabres have won three straight games and are 7-1-1 in their past nine games.
Injuries:
Devils
Lazar (lower-body, day-to-day)
Bernier (hip, LTIR)
Sabres
Anderson (upper-body)
And Lindy will choose to let us stew another two days and not start Luke.
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