Follow @stlgoalie The Blues start a five game home stand against Eastern Conference opponents tonight when they host the Buffalo Sabres. It starts a stretch that will see the Blues face-off against Eastern Conference teams in 11 of their next 13 games.
The Sabres have the 5th best points percentage in the league even though they sit 17th in goals per game and 10th in goals against per game with an 18th ranked power play. Their penalty killing has been superb, ranked 5th in the league. As a side note, their 6th worst on face-offs.
Jack Eichel leads the way with 14 goals and 48 points in 37 games. Jeff Skinner and Sam Reinhart have also played well with 38 and 36 points, respectively. The Brothers Rasmus (Ristolainen and Dahlin) are next with 24 and 20 points respectively but they are both rear guards.
Former Blue Carter Hutton is the confirmed starter tonight. Hutton is only 13-10-2 but has a strong 2.58 goals against average and a 91.7% save percentage. Hutton has struggled against the Blues going 0-2-3 with only an 88.2% save percentage and a 3.42 goals against average.
Former Blue Vladimir Sobotka will start out centering the third line while Tage Thompson will start on the wing on the 4th line.
Jeff Skinner has been very good in his career against the Blues, netting 9 goals and 12 points in 12 games while Kyle Okposo has 11 points in 15 games. Jack Eichel will be looking for his 1st goal against the Blues in now his 6th try.
The Blues are 11-1 in their last 12 games against Buffalo. Jake Allen is 5-1 with a 1.47 goals against average and a 94.3% save percentage in his starts against the Sabres.
The Blues have three players averaging over a point a game against the Sabres. Ryan O’Reilly has 8 points in 7 games against his former team, Vladimir Tarasenko has 5 goals and 10 points in 9 games, and Jaden Schwartz has 8 points in 7 games. A two point game by David Perron would add him to the list as he has 12 points in 13 games.
The Blues are expected to come back with the same lineup even though Robby Fabbri has been deemed healthy enough to return. Expect the lineup to be this: Schwartz - Schenn - Tarasenko Steen - O'Reilly – Perron Maroon - Bozak - Thomas Nolan - Barbashev - Sundqvist Edmundson - Parayko Bouwmeester - Bortuzzo Dunn - Butler Allen
The Blues need to earn 69.8% of their remaining points in order to reach 99 points. They currently are earning 47.1%. The 5 game home stretch and their performance against the Eastern teams will soon determine when or whether they admit defeat on the season, perhaps making #loseforHughes a real consideration.
NHL Champions for Charity We’ve gotten some traction on the charity wager among the Central Division bloggers. More on that to come.
It’s a great day for hockey.