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(NHL) Buffalo vs. San Jose,
Money Line: -171.00 San Jose (Home)
Result: Win
Money Line: -171.00 San Jose (Home)
Result: Win
The set-up: The Buffalo Sabres and the San Jose Sharks meet tonight at the SAP Center in San Jose, with both clubs looking for their first win of the new season. The Sabres are 0-2-1 and the Sharks, 0-2-0. Interestingly, while the Sharks have been the way more successful team in recent years, the Sharks' 4-1 win back on March 14th of last season, halted the Sabres' five-game winning streak in San Jose and a 10-0-1 Buffalo run overall in the series. That said, neither team is thinking too much about series history at this point, as both clubs just need that first win!
Buffalo: The Sabres Buffalo are 'licking their wounds' after being shredded for 12 goals in the team's last two defeats. Buffalo opens a four-game road trip in San Jose tonight, which includes three games in California plus the team's first visit to Las Vegas. "Yeah, I know it's only three games, but it's six points," defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen said. "At the end of the year the schedule might be tough and you need every point so right now the good thing is, it's on this tough road trip against really, really good teams." New coach Phil Housley juggled his lines at Tuesday's practice, elevating Zemgus Girgensons to the top line while inserting Evander Kane alongside Ryan O'Reilly and Kyle Okposo. "You change the lines to try to get other guys going or maybe there's some chemistry that you're looking for," Housley said. They could change tomorrow, but we thought we would try these combinations moving forward."
San Jose: San Jose coach Pete DeBoer also has tinkered with both his lines and power-play units during practice this week and might have a new face on the blue line. Defenseman Paul Martin exited Tuesday's practice after 10 minutes, possibly opened the door for Swedish rookie Tim Heed to play in his second career game. "Had a great year last year, arguably the best defenseman in the (AHL)," DeBoer said. He's going to play some games and get an opportunity." It will be hard for San Jose to earn a win, if goalie Martin Jones doesn't improve his play. He currently owns a 5.17 GAA and an .864 SP.
The pick: Evander Kane has produced consecutive two-goal games for Buffalo, after scoring a team-high 28 goals in 70 games last season. Jack Eichel had 24 goals last year and has one in three games this season. However, the Sabres are not generating offense from other veterans, as Ryan O'Reilly, Kyle Okposo and Matt Moulson have combined for one assist and are a minus-12. "When you're sitting two losses with no points in the standings, it stirs you up and makes you hungry to go get a ‘W' and makes you want to come fired up for Thursday," San Jose center Chris Tierney said. San Jose hasn't started a season with three straight losses since 1993-94, when it went dropped four straight en route to a nine-game winless stretch that included one tie. That was then and this is now. Buffalo's 78 points left them 8th in the Atlantic Division, while San Jose earned 99 points in finishing 3rd in the Pacific. While the Sabres went just 13-22-6 on the road last season, San Jose was an impressive 26-1-4 at SAP Center. San Jose goalie Jones has started poorly but he is 2-1-1 with a 2.22 GAA against the Sabres. Make the Sharks an 8* play.
Buffalo: The Sabres Buffalo are 'licking their wounds' after being shredded for 12 goals in the team's last two defeats. Buffalo opens a four-game road trip in San Jose tonight, which includes three games in California plus the team's first visit to Las Vegas. "Yeah, I know it's only three games, but it's six points," defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen said. "At the end of the year the schedule might be tough and you need every point so right now the good thing is, it's on this tough road trip against really, really good teams." New coach Phil Housley juggled his lines at Tuesday's practice, elevating Zemgus Girgensons to the top line while inserting Evander Kane alongside Ryan O'Reilly and Kyle Okposo. "You change the lines to try to get other guys going or maybe there's some chemistry that you're looking for," Housley said. They could change tomorrow, but we thought we would try these combinations moving forward."
San Jose: San Jose coach Pete DeBoer also has tinkered with both his lines and power-play units during practice this week and might have a new face on the blue line. Defenseman Paul Martin exited Tuesday's practice after 10 minutes, possibly opened the door for Swedish rookie Tim Heed to play in his second career game. "Had a great year last year, arguably the best defenseman in the (AHL)," DeBoer said. He's going to play some games and get an opportunity." It will be hard for San Jose to earn a win, if goalie Martin Jones doesn't improve his play. He currently owns a 5.17 GAA and an .864 SP.
The pick: Evander Kane has produced consecutive two-goal games for Buffalo, after scoring a team-high 28 goals in 70 games last season. Jack Eichel had 24 goals last year and has one in three games this season. However, the Sabres are not generating offense from other veterans, as Ryan O'Reilly, Kyle Okposo and Matt Moulson have combined for one assist and are a minus-12. "When you're sitting two losses with no points in the standings, it stirs you up and makes you hungry to go get a ‘W' and makes you want to come fired up for Thursday," San Jose center Chris Tierney said. San Jose hasn't started a season with three straight losses since 1993-94, when it went dropped four straight en route to a nine-game winless stretch that included one tie. That was then and this is now. Buffalo's 78 points left them 8th in the Atlantic Division, while San Jose earned 99 points in finishing 3rd in the Pacific. While the Sabres went just 13-22-6 on the road last season, San Jose was an impressive 26-1-4 at SAP Center. San Jose goalie Jones has started poorly but he is 2-1-1 with a 2.22 GAA against the Sabres. Make the Sharks an 8* play.
