The Buffalo Sabres (7-23-3) are back in action tonight as they host the Winnipeg Jets (15-15-5). This is the first of two meetings between the Sabres and Jets this season, the second coming on December 31st in Winnipeg.
Despite the team’s struggle to win games, Zemgus Girgensons is emerging as one of the most consistent Sabres players night in and night out.
Girgensons has been able to earn top line minutes while playing with Tyler Ennis and Matt Moulson. Looking like a “reboot” of the Stafford – Ennis – Foligno line from a couple of years back, this line of Moulson, Ennis, and Girgensons have it all.
The skill, the finishing ability, and the grit. While playing his part, Girgensons was able to tally two goals and three assists for a total of five points in his last seven games, not including the shootout winner versus Ottawa last week.
Although they do not want to have to rely on any specific player or line for their success, they will look to the line of Moulson – Ennis – Girgensons to continue to produce as they work on getting better as an entire team.
The Jets have had their fair of struggles this year, having a lineup that has been plagued by injuries. Evander Kane returned to the lineup earlier this week and made an immediate impact, scoring a goal and assisting on another in a win that snapped Winnipeg’s three game skid.
The Jets sit at 12th place in the Western Conference with 35 points, only 10 points out of the final playoff spot. Although it is going to be a challenge in what is one of the most competitive conferences that has been seen in recent years, they are poised to regain the consistency they had earlier in the season.
Buffalo will be without forward Cody McCormick who is expected to miss over a month of action with an upper body injury. It appears as if defensemen Alexander Sulzer and forward Cody Hodgson will be poised to make their return to the lineup tonight. Winnipeg will be missing forward Matt Halischuck, d-men Zack Bogosian and Paul Potsma, as well as forward Jim Slater.
The game is schedule to begin at 7:00 p.m. and can be seen on MSG (US) or Bell TV (CAN). You can also listen to the game on WGR550.