Buffalo saber (17.11.4) vs. Boston Bruins (17-13-4)

Puck drop: 7:00 PM EST | TD Garden | Boston, MA

TV: MSG

Know your opponent

Boston Bruins

Record: 17-13-4 | 38 PTS

Last game: 2-3 loss to Boston (December 19)

Division ranking: 4th in the Atlantic

PP: 12.7% (Sabre: 13.5%)

PK: 77.9% (Saber: 77.1%)

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What you should see

1. On the go

The Bruins have done well on home ice this season, going 9-6-2 at TD Garden. On the other hand, the Sabers are 5-8-1 on the road. Boston has won its last three games on home ice and returns there after a five-game road trip that saw it visit Western Canada. The Sabres’ last win generally came on the road – but back on November 23rd. However, this will certainly not be an easy game for the team, which is currently on a twelve-game losing streak.

The Bruins are led by David Pastrnak (12-21-33 in 34 GP) and Brad Marchand (13-13-26 in 34 GP).

2. Still stripes

As the Sabers look to end a 12-game losing streak, here’s a quick look at the numbers in this section:

• 12 consecutive defeats since November 27th
• Outscored 50-27
• 2 power play goals (Thompson, Quinn) – 6.1%
• 69.4% PC
• Averaged 27.9 shots per game
• Averaged 48.7% at the faceoff point
• Goals by Period (BUF): 14-7-6
• Goals conceded by period: 11/20/17.2 (OT)
• Scored first goal in 7/12 games

3. Special teams

I don’t expect much from special teams in this game. The numbers are listed above, but in case you skimmed them, the Sabers and Bruins have the 30th and 31st power plays in the league. Buffalo has scored 13 goals on 94 opportunities, while Boston has scored 15 goals on 118 opportunities. The penalty shootouts are slightly better, but still pretty even – 21st (BOS) and 22nd (BUF) in the league. The Bruins have been shorthanded 113 times this season, third-most in the NHL, while the Sabers have been shorthanded 106 times (6th most).

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Buffalo saber

Forward

Jason Zucker – Tage Thompson – Alex Tuch
JJ Peterka – Dylan Cozens – Jack Quinn
Zach Benson – Jiri Kulich – Peyton Krebs
Beck Malenstyn – Ryan McLeod – Sam Lafferty

defense

Rasmus Dahlin – Bowen Byram
Mattias Samuelsson – Owen Power
Dennis Gilbert – Connor Clifton

Goalkeeper: Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (expected starter), James Reimer

(Lindy Ruff is scheduled to speak to the media Saturday at 4:50 p.m. We’ll see what lineup changes might make a splash tonight.)

Boston Bruins

Forward

Morgan Geekie – Pavel Zacha – David Pastrnak
Brad Marchand – Elias Lindholm – Justin Brazeau
Trent Frederic – Charlie Coyle – Oliver Wahlstrom
Marc McLaughlin – John Beecher – Mark Kastelic

defense

Nikita Zadorov-Charlie McAvoy
Jordan Oesterle – Brandon Carlo
Mason Lohrei – Andrew Peeke

Goalkeeper: Jeremy Swayman, Joonas Korpisalo