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The Calgary Flames are back in action tonight looking to pick up their first win of the season.
They figure to have a good chance of doing just that as they host a Buffalo Sabres team that hasn't been all that impressive in their first couple games.
The Sabres dropped their season opener against Montreal and somehow beat the Edmonton Oilers, 6-2, despite being out shot 33-24.
Playing without Jack Eichel certainly doesn't help their cause but, as has been the case for years, the Sabres have been out shot and out chanced by large margins.
Through two games the Sabres have been out attempted 83-60 (41.96 Corsi For%), and out chanced 38-25 (39.68 Scoring Chance For%) during 5 v 5 play.
If the Sabres post numbers like that again tonight the Flames should have little problem picking up their first win of the season.
Here is a look at the line combos Glen Gulutzan os expected to go with tonight:
Johnny Gaudreau - Sean Monahan - Kris Versteeg
Matthew Tkachuk - Sam Bennett - Troy Brouwer
Micheal Ferland - Mikael Backlund - Michael Frolik
Lance Bouma - Matt Stajan - Alex Chiasson
Mark Giordano - T.J. Brodie
Dougie Hamilton - Jyrki Jokipakka
Brett Kulak - Deryk Engelland
Chad Johnson
And what they will go up against:
Sam Reinhart - Ryan O'Reilly - Kyle Okposo
Tyler Ennis - Zemgus Girgensons - Nick Deslauriers
Marcus Foligno - Johan Larsson - Brian Gionta
Matt Moulson - Derek Grant - Nick Baptiste
Josh Gorges - Rasmus Ristolainen
Jake McCabe - Zach Bogosian
Dmitry Kulikov - Cody Franson
Robin Lehner
A few notes:
1) It's easier said than done, obviously, but shutting down the Reinhart - O'Reilly - Okposo line is absolutely key for the Flames tonight. The Sabres have next to no reliable offensive players on lines 2-4 so if the Flames can limit the damage the top line causes they'll be in good shape. Expect the Giordano - Brodie pairing to see a lot of them at 5 v 5.
2) In particular Gulutzan should use last change to pick at the Ennis - Girgensons - Deslauriers unit. Girgensons is new to that line but the two wingers have been sub 30% in possession together and even worse in the scoring chance department.
3) Discipline is extremely important tonight. No team has been worse at 5 v 5 than the Sabres and no team has spent more time killing penalties than the Flames. If they stay out of the box and keep things at even-strength they should be able to take it to the Sabres.
4) Johnson had the best year of his NHL career in Buffalo last season and put forth by far the best start of the early season for the Flames last time out. Can he earn the Flames their first win against his former club?
Tonight's game is schedule for 9 pm eastern and can be seen on SN-F and MSG-B.
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