The Buffalo Sabres are returning home to try and end a three-game overtime loss streak and will have to do it against arguably the greatest goal-scorer in NHL history. Last season, Alex Ovechkin broke Wayne Gretzky's record for most NHL goals in a career, which previously was 894.
While each goal by Ovechkin makes NHL history, the Capitals forward is one goal from a major milestone. Through the first 11 games of the season, Ovechkin has two goals and is one goal shy of 900 career goals, which he could reach against the Buffalo Sabres.
Ovechkin has played in 67 career games against the Buffalo Sabres and has 42 goals in those games, which is the seventh most goals by Ovechkin against any one franchise. The most he has scored against one franchise is 57 against the Winnipeg Jets.
Buffalo Sabres are going to need a full-team effort from slowing down Alex Ovechkin
Even at 40 years old, Ovechkin is still an excellent goal-scorer and one the Sabres can't take lightly. He doesn't need much room to make the opposing team pay by getting the puck in the back of the net.
For the game on Saturday night, the Sabres are going to need a collective team effort to slow him down. This means not only an excellent performance against the blue line, but the forwards as well. Alex Tuch is considered one of the top two-way forwards in the league, and this is a game they will need that.
The fourth line for the Sabres is also going to be important, and they have done a good job as of late. The Sabres have been putting this group out against the opposing team's top line in a way to keep the puck deep in their zone. There is no better way to limit Ovechkin's chances than to do that.
Ultimately though it will be up to the goalie to keep Ovechkin out of net and as of Saturday morning, it isn't clear who that will be. Alex Lyon is coming off his worst performance of the season while Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen didn't look great in his only start of the year against Toronto.
It is hard to imagine that the Sabres would have Colten Ellis on the ice in only his second career NHL start and go against the greatest goal-scorer ever in NHL history. However, all options are on the table and whoever is in net will need to have a great game.