The Buffalo Sabres will battle the Calgary Flames looking to get back in the win column after falling to the Ottawa Senators 2-1 on Thursday evening. Saturday’s visit by the Flames will be the first time at the First Niagara Center since November of 2011 when the Sabres came away with a 2-1 victory.
Tyler Enis remains one of the few bright spots on the Sabres offense lately, scoring in three of his last four games and continues to take the play to the opponent each shift he is on the ice. His stellar play will be greatly needed, especially if Cody Hodgson remains out of the line up. Hodgson will be a game time decision, suffering from a lower body injury.
While the Sabres (7-23-2) still find themselves falling farther and farther behind the rest of the NHL, there are definite signs of improvement lately. Along with Tyler Enis, Tyler Myers has picked up his game as of late, jumping up with the offense whenever the opportunity arises and stepping up his physical play. The Sabres are still last in the league in goals per game, but picking up a season high 41 shots against a stubborn Senator defense is a sure sign of progress.
The Calgary Flames (12-15-4) are also having a turbulent season. Thursday afternoon it was announced that GM Jay Feaster along with assistant John Wiesbrod were fired and that President Brian Burke would be taking over as acting GM. The Flames responded quite well picking up a 2-1 overtime victory over the Carolina Hurricanes Thursday evening.
Putting all the events that unfolded this past week behind them, head coach Bob Hartley and his Calgary Flames will look to pick up the two points Saturday and stay out of the basement of the Western Conference. Currently the team is three points ahead of the Edmonton Oilers who hold the bottom spot in the conference.
Saturday’s contest will be the first of two meetings this year between the two clubs with the second taking place at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary later in the season. Puck drop is scheduled for 2:05 and can be seen on MSG.