Main storyline: It is game 80, and the Buffalo Sabres (22-49-8) are back home for the final week of the regular season. On Monday, Buffalo will welcome in the Carolina Hurricanes (29-38-11) for its their only meeting this year at the First Niagara Center.
Season series: The Sabres and Hurricanes have met twice in Carolina with both teams splitting the season series to this point. Buffalo won the first game 4-3 in a shootout on October 14 to record its first win of the 2014-15 season. The second meeting came on January 8 with the Hurricanes coming away victorious in a 5-2 win.
Where they stand: With a regulation loss on Monday to the Hurricanes, the Sabres will officially finish the season in last place irregardless of how the final two games pan out for the Sabres. Buffalo currently sits four points behind the Arizona Coyotes for 29th place with only three games left in the season. For the Hurricanes, the team sits in last place in the Metropolitan Division, and would currently pick fifth overall in the 2015 NHL Draft if the season ended today.
Recent performance: After a late third period collapse on Friday against the Chicago Blackhawks, the Sabres went to Long Island on Saturday for its last game at the Nassau Coliseum against the Islanders. Andrey Makarov got his first career NHL start, looking to help the Sabres rebound from Friday’s debacle. Saturday’s game, however, belonged to the Islanders, who continue to push its way to the playoffs for the second time in three years. Makarov faced 36 shots in his first career game, and was able to turn away 33 saves, but the team around him failed to get one of 21 shots past Jaroslav Halak in the 3-0 loss. Carolina had a Saturday matinee on Saturday against the Philadelphia Flyers, and got a 3-2 victory over the Flyers in a shootout. The Hurricanes jumped out to a 2-0 lead, only to squander the lead in the third period. The game went to a shootout where Chris Terry scored the game winning goal in he second round of the shootout to help lift the Hurricanes past the Flyers.
Buffalo notes: The Sabres are just one regulation loss from being where most Sabres fans want them: picking in the top two of the draft. If the Sabres do lose in regulation, it would be the second consecutive year the team finishes as the worst team in the NHL. The prize pick, if you win the lottery of course, is Connor McDavid who has been compared to Sidney Crosby by many NHL scouts. The next best player behind him is an impressive consolation prize in Boston University stand-out Jack Eichel. Wherever the Sabres finish, McDavid or Eichel will join a group of some prospects in the Sabres organization who potentially could change the franchise in the future. Matt Moulson is feeling better and is expected to dress for the Sabres on Monday. With Moulson’s return, Tim Schaller has been sent back down to the Rochester Americans, who have been eliminated from any chance of making the Calder Cup playoffs. Mike Weber is not expected to return to the lineup this season with a nagging injury. Anders Lindback is expected back in the nets following the night off on Saturday.
Carolina notes: The Hurricanes are in Buffalo for the first time this season, and the team has had a season they would like to forget. Due to a rash of injuries to top talent players like Jordan and Eric Staal and many defensive players, Carolina has had to rely on many call-ups from the AHL’s Charlotte Checkers to fill the voids. The Hurricanes have also had some inconsistencies in net with the goaltending, which is just extra vinegar in the open wounds. Coming into Monday’s matchup, the team has won two of its last three games, and have been relatively healthy. The Hurricanes may be out of playoff contention, but that does not mean the team is not willing to end the season on a high note. The lineup for Carolina is not expected to change much from Saturday, and Cam Ward will get the start once again in net.
Conclusion: The Sabres and Hurricanes are set to battle at the First Niagara Center. A regulation loss will clinch last place for the Sabres in the NHL Standings, while a win will help the team climb even more up the standings in hopes of catching the Coyotes for 29th place. Opening face-off is scheduled for 7pm, and the game can be seen on MSG Network.