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Buffalo Sabres Fan Chatter: Game #1, Canadiens vs Sabres

By Richard Spalding

Mar 16, 2016; Buffalo, NY, USA; Buffalo Sabres left wing Marcus Foligno (82) celebrates his goal against the Montreal Canadiens during the third period at First Niagara Center. The Canadiens beat the Sabres 3-2 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 16, 2016; Buffalo, NY, USA; Buffalo Sabres left wing Marcus Foligno (82) celebrates his goal against the Montreal Canadiens during the third period at First Niagara Center. The Canadiens beat the Sabres 3-2 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports /
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Whether they are ready or not, the Buffalo Sabres open their 2016-17 season tonight at home against the Habs.  Are you ready to make some predictions?

The moment you have all been waiting for is upon us, folks: the Buffalo Sabres open their 2016-17 season tonight, at home, no less!

And they will be without two, if not three, of their anticipated leading scorers!  Because that’s how we all wanted to see the season begin.

In case you just got back from an expedition to Mars and have no idea what I’m talking about, the Sabres lost Jack Eichel to a high ankle sprain injury at practice Wednesday, and he is set to miss a handful of weeks, at least.  Meanwhile, newly-acquired right winger Kyle Okposo is being held out of tonight’s game, and Ryan O’Reilly’s status is uncertain at the time I am writing this so . . . let’s some math . . . carry the one . . . divide by pi . . . that means the Buffalo Sabres could be without roughly 180 points worth of players this evening when they square off against the Montreal Canadiens.

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The same Canadiens squad that EA Sports predicted would battle for the Stanley Cup this postseason.  Joy.

The good news?  Carey Price will no be in between the pipes for Montreal tonight, as he is battling the flu and did not travel with the team.

Good news, bad news – it doesn’t matter to us here at Sabre Noise.  We’re going to give you 82 chances this season (at least) to prove you know a little somethin’ somethin’ about hockey courtesy of our 2016-17 Buffalo Sabres Fan Chatter series.  I don’t have much more to offer than the right to brag to your friends at the water cooler (or wherever the hell you hang out) at work the next day, but hey!  We’re just here to have fun.

Here are the projected line combinations for tonight:

9 Evander Kane – 90 Ryan O’Reilly – 23 Sam Reinhart
63 Tyler Ennis – 22 Johan Larsson – 82 Marcus Foligno
26 Matt Moulson – 28 Zemgus Girgensons – Hudson Fasching
44 Nicolas Deslauriers – 27 Derek Grant – 12 Brian Gionta

Defensemen: 55 Rasmus Ristolainen, 29 Jake McCabe, 47 Zach Bogosian, 4 Josh Gorges, 6 Cody Franson, 34 Casey Nelson

With those interesting possibilities in mind, let’s see who can start the season with early bragging rights!

1.  Who scores the first goal of the 2016-17 season for the Buffalo Sabres tonight?    Saying “no one” is an option if you honestly feel the team gets shut out on opening night!  10 pts.

2. Predict how many goals Robin Lehner allows tonight.  5 pts.

3. Will Derek grant earn a point tonight – yes or no?  5 pts.

4. Pick a player who you feel could pick up 2 or more points tonight.  10 pts. if you are correct.

5. Last pick: who wins tonight, the Sabres or the Habs?  5 pts.

Next: The Sabres Will Be Fine Without Eichel? Please, stop.

Share your picks down below, and follow us on Twitter @sabrenoise to have some fun throughout the game!  Can the Buffalo Sabres fight off adversity and pick up a win tonight?  Let’s go Buffalo!

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