With an 0-4 record so far on this seven game road trip, the matchups don’t get any easier for Buffalo.
The Sabres head into St. Louis looking to avoid falling to the cellar of the Eastern Conference. Buffalo has just three more points than the last placed Tampa Bay Lightning.
Tonight, the Sabres will face the team with the most home wins in the league. St. Louis are 20-3-3 on home ice this season.
Not only do the Blues sport the league’s best home record, but they are coming off back-to-back shutouts, both by a 1-0 score. They also have posted four shutouts in the past six games.
Jaroslav Halak comes into the game on fire with a shutout streak at almost 150 minutes. In his last 13 decisions, he’s 10-0-3 and he hasn’t lost in regulation since November 22nd.
St. Louis hasn’t allowed a third period goal in 10 games and haven’t lost on home ice since December 3rd.
“When you’re still finding ways to win when you’re not at your best, it’s a sign of a good thing and a sign of a team coming together wanting to win and learning to win,” defenseman Carlo Colaiacovo said. “I think that’s what we’ve found within ourselves in this room. If it takes a third period to win a game like we have in the last couple games and we end up gutting it out and finding ways to win … hey, two points is two points. You’re not going to ask how.”
St. Louis defeated Buffalo in the teams’ only meeting last season, by a 3-0 score. This will be the only meeting of the season.
The Blues are only two points out of first place in the league and could move into a tie with a win over Buffalo tonight.
While the Blues are flying high, the Sabres can’t seem to get anything going. Playoff hopes have diminished and continue to do so with each loss. During their 11 game road losing streak, the Sabres have been outscored 46-15.
In the past three games alone, opponents have been destroying the Sabres, 15-3.
Tonight’s game is scheduled for 8:00 p.m.