Game Preview: Carolina Hurricanes vs. Buffalo Sabres
This afternoon at 1:30 PM, the arena will buzz with excitement as the Carolina Hurricanes (30-15-4) host the Buffalo Sabres (26-16-5), each team riding a wave of recent successes. The Hurricanes are coming off an overwhelming victory, having defeated the Florida Panthers 9-1 last Friday, where they scored six goals in the final period. Following that, they clinched a solid 4-1 win against the New Jersey Devils on Saturday, spearheaded by an impressive hat trick from Andrei Svechnikov, which fuels their confidence as they lead the Metropolitan Division by seven points.
Meanwhile, the Sabres’ fortunes have drastically improved since the dismissal of their general manager, Kevyn Adams, on December 15. Since that date, Buffalo has amassed a record of 12-2-1, marked by a remarkable seven-game winning streak, indicating a stark contrast from their earlier season struggles.
Key Players and Matchup Insights
As both teams prepare for this crucial matchup, the season series between them is currently even, emphasizing that this is not the same Buffalo team Carolina faced back in October and November when they struggled. Key to the Sabres’ success has been Tage Thompson, who has propelled the offense with nine goals and a total of 21 points over the last fifteen games, making him a vital player for Buffalo this season with 25 goals and 50 points in 47 appearances. Supporting him in the offensive effort, Alex Tuch and Josh Doan have chipped in with 17 and 15 goals, respectively.
Defensively, Rasmus Dahlin continues to establish his reputation as one of the league’s elite defensemen. The 2018 draft’s first overall pick leads Buffalo’s defensive group with 34 points in 43 games, showing his value on both ends of the ice. In goal, while Alex Lyon has been sidelined for nine games due to injury, he had a strong campaign prior, showing average numbers of a 2.82 GAA and .906 save percentage over 21 contests. Although Lyon returned to practice, it’s anticipated that Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen will be the one starting in goal today despite his struggles lately, with a 3.40 GAA and .896 save percentage in his last five outings, putting pressure on him to perform against a high-scoring Hurricanes team.
Hurricanes’ Strategy and Player Updates
The Hurricanes will be looking to feed off their offensive momentum from the past two games, focusing on increasing their shot volume and creating high-quality opportunities in front of the net to secure a victory. There are uncertainties regarding the availability of defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere, who has missed the last two games and remains a game-time decision. Additionally, William Carrier is listed as day-to-day after missing four games due to an injury. For Carolina, emerging goaltender Brandon Bussi demonstrated competence in his last appearance, stopping 15 of 16 shots in that 9-1 rout, and he could potentially earn his 18th win today.
How to Follow the Game
As the Hurricanes seek to extend their winning streak against a formidable Sabres outfit, anticipation is high for this afternoon’s clash. Here’s how you can follow the game:
- Match Time: 1:30 PM ET
- Broadcast: TNT
- Streaming: HBO Max
- Radio Coverage: 99.9 The Fan
- Betting Odds: Hurricanes favored at -196 on the Moneyline, with a spread of Hurricanes -1.5 at +120.
