Sabres Try To Ring In New Year With Home Ice Win

Tonight, the Buffalo Sabres look to put their 9-2 home streak on the line, taking on the Tampa Bay Lightning in New Years fashion.

Dec 16, 2014; Winnipeg, Manitoba, CAN; Buffalo Sabres goalie Jhonas Enroth (1) prior to the game against the Winnipeg Jets at MTS Centre. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Fedyck-USA TODAY Sports

When it comes to home ice, Buffalo has what looks to be the right formula entertaining the home crowd in the First Niagara Center. The true crowd came to light in this past Saturday’s comeback win against the Islanders. Never, in my 21 years, have I heard the arena that loud before.

The Sabres have the chance to keep the crowd elated again, with the Lightning coming into town for their third of five meetings this season. Buffalo edged the Lightning in the first earlier home and home with Tampa, edging them 2-1 in a shootout in the First Niagara Center before a 5-0 blowout loss to them on the road.

It’s no secret, Buffalo struggles when not in front of the home crowd. If you think about it, if Buffalo was as good on the road as they are at home, they would be right in the mix of battling it out for not even just a Wild Card spot, but even a top three spot in the Atlantic Division.

Buffalo also boasts a 51-25-7 record against Tampa, their best record among Eastern Conference opponents.

Of course, the big story regarding Buffalo revolves around their roster and how plagued it has been. Buffalo has lost a total of 132 man games, good for ninth overall in the league. Throughout the season, Buffalo has been pretty ok when it comes to injury, but the last part of December has not been the prettiest.

After a small injury scare, Patrick Kaleta has been cleared to play. Kaleta was hurt after a awkward collision with the boards resulting in him leaving the 5-2 loss agianst the Ottawa Senators. Kaleta also made the rounds on social media after an apparent self punch during a first period fight with Ottawa’s Jared Cowen.

Tyler Myers has officially been placed on IR, he skated yesterday during practice at the HARBORCENTER, but was ruled out for tonight’s game. Myers has missed the past four games with a lower body injury.

Menawhile, both Josh Gorges and Mike Weber are expected in the lineup tonight, despite missing yesterdays practice with a maintenance day. Torrey Mitchell is on IR and has missed six games. It’s also believe that Tyson Strachan will be ready to go after missing eight of the past 10 games with a lower body injury. Rasmus Ristolainen has been battling effects of the flu, so he is still listed as out for tonight, earning one more night of rest.

Right now, the best thing for this team is that they just need a rest. From now until the All-Star break, which for Buffalo, starts on January 19th, Buffalo will play nine games in the next three weeks. This is not anything atypical, but to fully rest, that break will come at a good time.

Jhonas Enroth is expected to be in net tonight. Ben Bishop is still hurting from a groin injury, so it’s likely Buffalo will see recent call-up Andrei Vasilevskiy in net for the Lightning to give Bishop a little extra rest.

Buffalo has found decent success inside the Atlantic. Since November second, Buffalo has gone 7-4-2 against their division. Tonight’s game would mark the ninth divisional game that Buffalo played in the month of December.

Let’s hope for the same result tonight. Puck drops at 7. Ball drops and midnight.