The Buffalo Sabres look to carry their winning streak into Pittsburgh as they attempt to win six games in a row.
No Buffalo Sabres fans, you are not dreaming. The Buffalo Sabres are in fact one of the top teams in the league, and are currently on a five game winning streak. Doesn’t it feel like it has been long overdue? I sure think so. Tonight, this team looks to continue that momentum as they attempt to take down the Penguins.
The possibility of a sixth straight win will not be something that comes easily. The Penguins may sit with a record of 7-8-3, but they still have a lot of talent to surge them towards a win.
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Star forward Sidney Crosby is still out day-to-day with an injury, but the Penguins also have an elite top center in Evgeni Malkin. He can single handedly take over a game, and a key to keeping the winning going will be to contain him. The best way to do this would be to use the pairing of Rasmus Ristolainen and Jake McCabe to shut down the forward charge of the Penguins top line, and to counter with speed the other way.
The Buffalo Sabres are still riding the hot hands of Jeff Skinner as he stands second in the league in goal scoring (14 goals), but they will look for contributions from other forwards in tonight’s matchup. A player to watch closely will be Sam Reinhart. He has been moving up and down the lineup the past couple of games, but he is still showing he can contribute in key situations.
The way for the Buffalo Sabres to beat the Penguins will be their pressure on the opposing goaltender. Matt Murray has struggled this season to find his bearings, and the best way to continue the streak is to get in his head early. Pressure down low, and shots coming from every angle will keep him guessing and he will make a mistake at the wrong time. He has done it a lot this year, and that will play a role tonight.
The puck drops at 7:00pm tonight in Pittsburgh, and it should be a great game! I’m one for an optimistic look, and I think they can continue the streak. LET’S GO BUFFALO!