Updated at 11:04 AM: This one is going to be tricky. The Detroit Red Wings (4-5-and-1) will be taking on the Buffalo Sabres (4-6-and-2) this evening (7 PM EDT start on FanDuel Sports Network Detroit/97.1 FM), and both teams come into the game on losing streaks.
Detroit is 0-2-and-1 in its past three games; Buffalo has lost 2 in a row, most recently dropping a 4-3 decision to the New York Islanders last night.
The Red Wings will be revenge-minded after dropping a 5-3 decision to Buffalo last Saturday, but the Sabres are plain old pissed off after last night’s loss, as BuffaloSabres.com’s Jourdon LaBarber’s game preview suggests:
The Sabres opened the scoring with a power-play goal from Dylan Cozens and received a Gordie Howe hat trick from Jason Zucker (a goal, an assist, and a fight), but defensive miscues added up for the second loss in a row.
“I think we had too many mental mistakes,” Zucker said. “Gave them chances off of plays we shouldn’t have, forwards not covering for D. Too many little mental lapses. … Against a team like that that plays stingy defense with a big D corps, it’s hard to create offense. So, if you keep giving them two-goal leads, it’s going to be hard to come back.”
As far as tonight’s game is concerned, LaBarber, Buffalo Hockey Beat’s Bill Hoppe and WGR 550’s Paul Hamilton all suggest that there will be changes to the Sabres’ lineup from last night’s game, but they’re not going to hold a morning skate after traveling to Detroit overnight, so we can expect an Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen in goal, and an update from coach Lindy ruff at 4:45 PM (per LaBarber).
There’s also this from Field Level Media’s game preview:
Following the Saturday contest, the Red Wings play six of their next seven games on the road. The Sabres will play four of the ensuing five games at home.
The Sabres’ PR department does a nice job of setting up tonight’s game via Tweet…
Tage Thompson is riding a six-game point streak (5+5) against Detroit and he has registered 18 points (8+10) in his last 10 games against the Red Wings. pic.twitter.com/RxC7C8Ria5
— Buffalo Sabres PR (@SabresPR) November 2, 2024
Ken Kal posted the game sheet on Twitter…
Good Morning fans! Here are tonight’s rosters to chew on. There will be scratches. Goes good with a Buffalo Chicken Sandwich, Tater Tots, and a Genny Cream Ale. Catch the game at 6:45pm @971theticketxyt pic.twitter.com/ijSYTRXis5
— Ken Kal (@KenKalDRW) November 2, 2024
You can read the rest of the game notes here…
And the Red Wings hit the ice at Little Caesars Arena for their morning skate just before 10:30 AM…
Looks from line rushes this morning like Tyler Motte isn’t quite ready to go. I’m seeing:
— Sam Stockton (@_samstockton) November 2, 2024
DeBrincat-Larkin-Kane
Copp-Compher-Raymond
Berggren-Kasper-Tarasenko
Rasmussen-Veleno-Fischer, with Motte as an extra.
Will await further confirmation from Lalonde post-skate pic.twitter.com/t21eWn31yK
There’s this to entertain you as well:
What if Cat really handed out pizzas? 🎃🍕 pic.twitter.com/uZEfGRkHqb
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) November 1, 2024
Update:
Lalonde confirms Motte will need some more time. These will be the forwards, and Erik Gustafsson folds back in, while Justin Holl will be the odd man out on D https://t.co/QwUwAy7Msa
— Sam Stockton (@_samstockton) November 2, 2024
