Main storyline: The Buffalo Sabres (14-26-3) have been on a downward spiral, losers of its last seven games. The last Sabres win came back on December 27 when the Sabres beat the New York Islanders 4-3 in a shootout. On Tuesday, the Sabres look to snap its losing streak at home as they face the Detroit Red Wings (22-11-9) on the night that Dominik Hasek’s legendary number-39 gets retired to the rafters at the First Niagara Center.
Season series: Tuesday’s matchup is the second of three meetings between the Sabres and Red Wings in the 2014-15 season. The first meeting came back on November 2 when the Sabres took down the Red Wings 3-2 in a shootout. Tyler Ennis and Zemgus Girgensons both scored in the shootout to help lift Buffalo past the Red Wings.
Where they stand: Well, the Sabres are not the worst team in the standings, but it has been bad for Buffalo. The Sabres currently sit tied for dead last in the Eastern Conference with the Carolina Hurricanes, and sit only two points ahead of 30th place Edmonton Oilers. In addition to losing the past seven games, Buffalo is 1-8-1 in its last 10 games. For the Red Wings, the team sits in third place in the Atlantic Division and sixth in the Eastern Conference with 53 points. Detroit sit behind only Tampa Bay and Montréal in the Atlantic Division.
Recent performance: Buffalo returns home following the team’s loss in Tampa Bay on Friday night. Friday’s game was the final game of a four game road trip, which saw the Sabres get outscored on the trip 17-5. After Tampa Bay got out to a 1-0 lead in the first period, Cody McCormick scored a shorthanded goal to tie the hockey game 1-1. Late in the third period, Steven Stamkos gave the Lightning the 2-1 which Ben Bishop would hold down to preserve the win. Michal Neuvirth was strong in net, making 47 saves in the losing effort against Tampa Bay. For Detroit, the Red Wings dropped its most recent matchup on Sunday night to the Washington Capitals 3-1. Red Wings goaltender Jimmy Howard was injured early on with a groin injury, and was replaced by Petr Mrazek. Detroit fell behind 3-0 in the second period, and were unable to come back and give the Capitals a run.
Buffalo notes: In addition to losing seven straight games, the Sabres are riddled with injuries. Cody McCormick was admitted to the hospital on Sunday with a blood clot in his lung. McCormick has since been released but the timetable for his return is uncertain. Chris Stewart is ill with the flu, and he may not be able to play on Tuesday. The Sabres have already recalled Zac Dalpe and Phil Varone from the Rochester Americans, but could make another recall before Tuesday’s game. The team has been without Torey Mitchell (lower-body injury), Marcus Foligno (hand), and Brian Gionta (head) since before Christmas. The Sabres could have Mitchell and Gionta back for Tuesday, however it is unclear just when both players will return. Czech goaltender Michal Neuvirth is expected to get the start for the Sabres on Tuesday.
Opponent notes: Detroit has lost its best goaltender a good portion of time with a groin injury. Jimmy Howard injured his groin in Sunday’s game against Washington on the Capitals first goal. Howard was helped off the ice on a stretcher, and he will miss the All-Star Game festivities in late January. Detroit already is having injury issues with goaltenders as Jonas Gustavsson is also hurt for the Red Wings with a shoulder injury.Detroit is also without Jakub Kindl, Johan Franzen, and Tomas Junco with various injuries. Mrazek is expected to get the start in between the pipes for the Wings.
Conclusion: Which of Dominik Hasek’s former teams will come out on top on Tuesday’s matchup? Opening face-off is scheduled for 7pm, however the ceremony for Hasek is scheduled to start at around 6:45 p.m The game can be seen on MSG Network, and also heard on WGR 550 A-M.