Buffalo Sabres – Carolina Hurricanes: Fan Picks!

Mea culpa, Sabre Noise readers.

Sep 19, 2013; Buffalo, NY, USA; Buffalo Sabres center

(19) and Carolina Hurricanes defenseman

(27) fight for position in front of the net during the second period at First Niagara Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports

In my previous fan picks post, I neglected to include reader JHizzle75 in the discussion of previous winners in our new competition here at Sabre Noise.

Not only had JHizzle already won once before, but has now struck a second time, meaning that three of us – JHizzle75, myself, and wolfdoctor – have won twice.

Of course, winning isn’t everything, as I am now going through all of the previous posts and compiling everyone’s total points score.  I would love to have that finished today so I can simply worry about adding current points from here on out, but the moral of the story is this: there’s lots of points up for grabs every night, so even if you’re not winning nightly bragging rights, you can still be at the top of the leaderboard.

Now: onto tonight’s showdown!

Tonight’s game between the Buffalo Sabres and the Carolina Hurricanes is noteworthy because it will be the first game Nathan Gerbe plays against his former squad.  Gerbe is having a nice year with Carolina, having collected 22 points with the ‘Canes thus far.  The Sabres also get to meet up with ex-blueliner Andrej Sekera, who has 25 points on the season.  Of course, the ‘Canes are mired in 13th place in the Eastern Conference, but two points tonight could propel them all the way into 11th, and a possible three-way tie with Ottawa and New Jersey.

In other words, the ‘Canes are still fighting for their playoff lives, so they are very motivated to win this game tonight and build a little winning streak.

Meanwhile, the Sabres have lost four consecutive 4-3 games, and have Jhonas Enroth in goal tonight, who has only won one game so far this season.  Take those facts and make what you will of them!

Questions to consider:

1. As always, I open with the over/under, which I am setting at 5.5 tonight.  Will the team combine to score more, or less?  (4 pts.)

2. Pick four players, culled from either team: FOUR!  I’ll give you 10 points if one of your picks scores the game’s first goal, and 3 points for any player who scores a goal, period.  Note: there was some confusion the other night, due to my wording, so allow me to clarify.  It’s not 3 pts. per goal; it’s either 10 points if they score first, OR 3 pts. if they score, but didn’t score first.  I gave out 13 points to anyone who picked Drew Stafford the other night, because he scored first and then again later.  Tonight, he would only get 10 points, for scoring first.  Just so you know!

3.  Who wins, and what is the combined score?   +4 for picking the winner, and +5 for being closest to the combined score.

4. Tyler Ennis has seven points in seven games; Drew Stafford, four in his last two; and Christian Ehrhoff could become the 25th active defenseman to notch 300 points.  How many of these players pick up points?  +5 for picking the correct combination.  (No points are awarded for being close!)

Get your picks in . . .  now!