Like The Phoenix, Sabres Have Risen From Flames (sabres)

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Like The Phoenix, Sabres Have Risen From Flames

By GARTH'S CORNER

Oct 30, 2018 • 6:36 pm

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One month into the NHL season, he Buffalo Sabres continue to be one of the hottest teams in the NHL.

The Sabres will close out the first month of the 2018-19 season with a home game against the Calgary Flames. With a 3-0-1 record in their last four games, the Sabres are seeking their first five-game point streak since they accumulated points in nine straight (7-0-2) from March 10 to 27, 2012.

A point against the Flames would give the Sabres (6-4-1) their best points percentage in a month with at least five games played since March 2016. With a win, it would be the team’s best such month since April 2013.

There is a lot on the line for Phil Housley's team as the Sabres look to keep pace with Maple Leafs, Canadiens, and Bruins at the top of the Atlantic Division.

The Sabres are 4-4-2 in their last 10 games against the Flames.

However, the Sabres are a sizzling 8-1-1 at home against the Flames.

The Sabres are 33-14-6 at home against the Flames all-time.

What is different about these pesky Sabre as compared to last season?

They are getting primary, secondary and tertiary scoring from their forwards.

The Sabres have scored at least four goals in each of their last four games. If they score four versus Calgary, it would be the first time the team has done so in five straight games in the same season since February 20 to March 2, 2007.

Newcomer Jeff Skinner has 6 goals and 6 assists in his last seven games and is currently on a five-game point streak. The streak ranks as his longest since his career-best seven-game streak from March 16 to 27, 2017.

Skinner entered play Monday tied for third in the NHL with 5 goals and 5 assists in the 12 days since the beginning of his current streak.

All of Skinner’s goals have come at even strength this season, and his six even-strength goals have him tied for sixth in the NHL.

In 12 career games against the Flames, Skinner has recorded 11 points (4G,7A), including nine points (3G,6A) in his last seven games.

Jack Eichel has recorded 3 goals and 8 assists in his last 10 games.

Kyle Okposo has points in each of his last three games (3G,1A) and is seeking his first four-game point streak since November 10 to 17, 2017. Okposo also enters the game on his first three-game goal streak since January 2014 and is looking to extend it to four games for the first time since his career-best five-game streak from March 24 to 31, 2012.

Jason Pominville enters the Flames game on a four-game point streak, during which he has scored 4 goals and 4 assists.

A point tonight would give Pominville points in five straight contests for the first time since Feb. 4 to 12, 2017.

Buffalo defensemen have found their way to being frequent flyers on the score sheet scoring six goal and 15 assist in the first 11 games of the season.

Jake McCabe has recorded seven points (1+6) in his last six games.

Sabres goalies are owed credit for their contributions to the team success.

In 8 games played, Carter Hutton has a .905 SV% and 3.07 GAA. Linus Ullmark has a .935 SV% and 2.00 GAA in his three starts this season.

Three years ago, on October 30, 2015, Ullmark earned his first NHL win against the Philadelphia Flyers, becoming the youngest goalie (22 years, 92 days) to earn a win for the Sabres since Mika Noronen (21 years, 111 days) did so on October 5, 2000 vs. Chicago.

The Sabres will host the Flames Tuesday night. They will play in Ottawa on Thursday and will host the Sens on Saturday afternoon. On Sunday, the Sabres will play the NY Rangers in Mahattan.

There is a very real possibility that the Sabres can earn 6-8 points this week. Doing so will keep the Sabres in the lead pack in the Atlantic. Calgary played in Toronto on Monday night and will arrive in Buffalo in the wee hours of the morning. thye will be fatigued whereas the Sabres have been home and chilling. They last played on Saturday night in Columbus where they lost in OT.

**

On Monday night, Department of Player Safety handed down a three game suspension to Ottawa Senators D Mark Borowiecki, who will miss the games against Buffalo on Thursday and Saturday.

Borowiecki earned the ban by delivering an illegal hit to the head of Vegas Knights forward Cody Eakin.

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