PREVIEW: STARS VS. SABRES
Lindy Ruff's Western Conference leading Dallas Stars (14-4-0) return to action on Tuesday night, visiting Dan Bylsma's improved Buffalo Sabres (8-8-1). Game time at the First Niagara Center is 6:00 p.m. CT. The game will be televised on Fox Sports Southwest.
This is the first of two games in a rapid-turnaround season series between the inter-Conference teams. The Stars and Sabres will rematch in Dallas on Saturday. Last season, the clubs split the season series with each club prevailing on home ice.
Dallas has had two nights off since defeating the Minnesota Wild 3-2 in overtime on Saturday. The Stars will make a stop in Washington on Thursday before returning home to rematch with the Sabres. Buffalo dropped a 2-1 overtime decision to the visiting San Jose Sharks on Saturday. After this game, the Sabres will travel to St. Louis for a Thursday game and then head to Dallas.
Stars Outlook
Dallas has won eight of its last 10 games, with both stumbles happening against the Toronto Maple Leafs. On Saturday, Stars' defenseman John Klingberg's fourth goal of the season enabled Dallas to prevail, 3-2 in overtime against Minnesota. Jason Spezza and Jamie Benn (power play deflection of a Klingberg shot) tallied in regulation, while Kari Lehtonen turned back 22 of 24 shots to earn the win in goal.
Heading into this game, Tyler Seguin (26 points) is second in the NHL scoring race to the Chicago Blackhawks' Patrick Kane (28 points). Dallas captain Jamie Benn is one point behind Seguin. Currently, Seguin leads the NHL with 17 assists; one more than teammate Klingberg and Montreal Canadiens' defenseman P.K. Subban. Benn's 12 goals are one fewer than Rocket Richard Trophy race pace-setter Kane. Klingberg (20 points) leads all NHL defensemen in scoring, with Ottawa Senators blueliner Erik Karlsson two points behind.
Thus far in the season, Lehtonen (2.38 goals against average, .921 save percentage) and Antti Niemi (2.80 GAA, .907 SV%) have each started nine games. As is customary for Ruff and many other NHL coaches, the former Sabres bench boss declined to publicly reveal his starting goaltender for Tuesday.
Both Travis Moen and Patrick Eaves are back from injury. So is Curtis McKenzie, who was assigned to the AHL's Texas Stars along with Radek Faksa.
Sabres Outlook
Buffalo is 3-0-1 over its last four games and has won five of its last seven but is coming off an OT loss to San Jose in the last game. The Sabres trailed 1-0 in the third period before Ryan O'Reilly's fifth goal of the season rescued a point and sent the match to OT. Chad Johnson made 30 saves in a losing cause.
O'Reilly's 14 points pace the team in scoring, as does his nine assists. Highly touted rookie Jack Eichel leads the club with six goals among his nine points. Young defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen tops the blueline offensively with 11 points (four goals, seven assists). Johnson (4-6-1, 2.67 GAA, .900 SV%) has made 12 appearances while Linus Ullmark (4-2-0, 2.45 GAA, .924 SV%) has appeared in six games,
The Sabres hope to have veteran defenseman Zach Bogosian in the lineup soon after missing the first 17 games of the season with a lower-body injury. He is now considered day-to-day and is a game-day decision for Tuesday's tilt. Likewise center Zemgus Girgensons is questionable after missing practice on Monday following a heavy check from San Jose's Tommy Wingels in Saturday's game.
Additionally, Buffalo remains without injured forwards Evander Kane (knee), Cody McCormick (blood clot), defenseman Mike Weber (knee) and goalie Robin Lehner (ankle).
Key team stat comparisons (NHL overall ranking)
Non-shootout goals per game: Stars 3.61 (1st), Sabres 2.29 (24th) Non-shootout goals against per game: 2.61 (16th), Sabres 2.71 (20th) 5-on-5 Goals For/Against Ratio: Power play efficiency: Stars 29.8 (2nd), Sabres 23.6 (4th) Penalty killing efficiency: Stars 80.0 (T-17th), Sabres 75.0 (28th) Shots per game: Stars 31.7 (T-2nd), Sabres 30.8 (9th) Shots against per game: Stars 30.1 (T-17th), Sabres 28.6 (11th) Faceoff percentage: Stars 49.9 (18th), Sabres 50.6 (T-9th)
Projected lineups (subject to change, will be updated)
STARS
14 Jamie Benn – 91 Tyler Seguin –10 Patrick Sharp 13 Mattias Janmark – 90 Jason Spezza – 18 Patrick Eaves 21 Antoine Roussel – 20 Cody Eakin – 43 Valeri Nichushkin 22 Colton Sceviour- 38 Vernon Fiddler – 83 Ales Hemsky
33 Alex Goligoski – 3 John Klingberg 47 Johnny Oduya – 4 Jason Demers 2 Jyrki Jokipakka – 24 Jordie Benn
31 Antti Niemi [32 Kari Lehtonen]
Scratches: Jamie Oleksiak (healthy), Travis Moen (healthy).
SABRES
26 Matt Moulson - 90 Ryan O'Reilly - 12 Brian Gionta 22 Johan Larsson - 15 Jack Eichel - 63 Tyler Ennis 82 Marcus Foligno - 59 Tim Schaller - 23 Sam Reinhart 44 Nicolas Deslauriers - 17 David Legwand - 88 Jamie McGinn
4 Josh Gorges - 56 Rasmus Ristolainen 29 Jake McCabe - 47 Zack Bogosian 3 Mark Pysyk - 46 Cody Franson
35 Linus Ullmark [30 Chad Johnson]
Scratches: Zemgus Girgensons (questionable), Carlo Colaiacovo (healthy), Evander Kane (IR, knee), Cody McCormick (IR, blood clot), Mike Weber (IR, knee), Robin Lehner (IR, ankle).