Pre-Game Report: Edmonton Oilers vs Buffalo Sabres

Pre-Game Report: Edmonton Oilers vs Buffalo Sabres

Hello Oilers fans Austin here with the pregame report between the Edmonton Oilers and the Buffalo Sabers the Oilers are coming off a 3-2 overtime win over the Montreal Canadians on Tuesday and the last time the Oilers played the Sabers they lost 3-2 in a shootout in

What was a kind of a strange game Buffalo seemingly had won the game in overtime uh but then it was determined that the uh the play was offside they had to replay about 40 seconds of the overtime period and then Buffalo almost won it again and then the Oilers ended

Up falling short in the shootout now I think we can all agree the Oilers effort against the Sabres two weeks ago was uh not at the level that we expect them to be at so I’m I’m expecting the Oilers to have a much better effort much more Pace

To their game tonight now looking ahead to the projected lineup here there’s been a couple changes from the Montreal game so Top Line looks like it’s going to remain a Vander Kane with Conor McDavid and Zach kimman those three played very very well against the Montreal Canadians they held an 80%

Expected goals for percentage and they were kind of all over the ice in a good way Warren Fogle Leon dreidle and Ryan McLoud look like they’re going to stay together Ryan nen Hopkins has been bumped down to the third line with Adam Henrik and Cory Perry I’m not entirely

Against that I think Adam Henrik uh just needs a bit better linemates uh these days um he did get his first goal against the Habs and I’m very happy for Adam Henrik but in terms of his expected goals for percentage and driving play Adam Henrik just hasn’t hit that level

That he’s been been known to be at uh with previous teams so I think having Ryan Nan Hopkins with him kind of take that load off in terms of the entire defensive responsibility Adam Henrik might be able to open up offensively a little bit and then Cory Perry’s beside

Them just to mix it up mix and muck it up after whistles I love that we have Yanmar Carrick and brown and then Derek Ryan as the extra now brown Ryan and Yanmar and Carrick don’t be surprised if one of those players ends up being out

Of the lineup I put a little star next to some of their names just because Chris noblock does seem to rotate one in one out every night so we’ll see who ends up being the OD man out but I would expect Connor Brown to be back in the

Lineup after he sat against the hals when it comes to our defense pairs Matias eom will be paired with Evan bard of course that is the top pair nurse with de har if de har is healthy kulak with CC and then Troy steter as the

Extra now as I mentioned with de har if he’s healthy and ready to go he’ll more than lik step in and play with nurse again that these seem to be the defense pairs that noblock has been going with recently uh but don’t be surprised if

You see Troy steter in there as well and then I do expect steuart Skinner to get this start against the Sabres he played very well against them a couple weeks ago probably deserved a better fate but maybe we can get some Redemption tonight for him now when it comes to the pregame

Stats I love all the numbers on the screen here the Oilers play at 700 p.m. mountain time Buffalo they are 33 32 and 5 they have lost one game in a row I believe that was against Vancouver the other night they lost uh but they did beat Vegas pretty handily uh the few

Nights before that so thank you Buffalo for allowing the Oilers to continue to stay and and uh you know maintain Pace ahead of the golden knights now the Sabers the season they are 19th in expected goals for share at 49.3% Buffalo’s power play ranks 27th in the league at

16.6% but acquiring Byrum their power play looks like it has been a bit better in recent games their peny kill ranked 17th at 79.2% they score 2.96 goals per game which ranks 21st but they only give up 2.94 goals per game which ranks 10th now uko peka Lucan in their

Goendale hockey for the sabes if he gets the start tonight it’s hard to score against him he has been a you know just an absolute Difference Maker for the Sabers in net uh the sabes you know they they don’t jump out at shoe offens ly but they are actually more stingy than

People think and if they had a bit better offense the Sabres would more than likely be in a playoff spot right now their team sa percentage ranks 11th in the league at 9.54 per and their team shooting percentage ranks 20th they have a 9.42% shooting percentage as a team

Like I said with the sabes a bit more finish and uh just a little bit more offense and a better power play and this is this is a good team the Oilers cannot take the Sabers lightly looking over on the Oilers side they are 41 21 and 4

They are on a one-game win streak they are 71 and2 in their last 10 they continue to remain second in the league in expected goals four share at 56.6 2% Hon’s power play ranks fourth at 26.4% their peny kill is above 80% again it is at 80.2% which ranks 13th their goals

For per game ranks fourth at 3.52 their goals against per game ranks eighth 2.82 goals against per game their team save percentage is now fifth in the entire NHL at 91.2 4% % and the Oilers team shooting percentage is at 99.7% which ranks 17th so they’re middle of the pack

In terms of finishing uh they have offensive juggernauts differen makers guys like McDavid and dry CLE they can break games wide open now when it comes to my score prediction speaking of breaking games open uh I’ve been predicting the Oilers to score four or more goals for a little while here they

Haven’t really been doing it but I’m expecting a bit of an offensive breakout the team is due um I’m going 5-3 Edmonton tonight and my player to watch is Ryan nent Hopkins now why is NJ my player to watch well one I love nent Hopkins and two he has one goal in his

Last 15 games he’s being bumped down to the third line with Adam Henrik curious to see how those two work together and if uh NJ play Maybe playing against just a little bit lesser competition uh if he’s able to generate a little bit of offense now I put out a tweet about

Newen Hopkins offensive struggles now this is not that that wasn’t me being like hey Newen Hopkins sucks that’s not what I say when I put these things out uh but I am curious to see if NJ can start to pick it up just a little bit

Here get hot just before the playoffs I would love to see it we all love the nude I’m happy that he is with the Oilers so he is my player to watch tonight what are your game day predictions make sure you let me know all of your game day thoughts in the

Comments section below if you like these pregame reports make sure you hit like if you really like them make sure you hit subscribe and I will see you all in the postgame debrief hopefully after a big Oilers win and I get to wear the victory chain so thanks again for

Watching I truly do appreciate all the support and I’ll see you guys soon take care

Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers complete their 4-game homestand tonight against the Buffalo Sabres who are currently on a Western Conference road trip of their own. The #sabres emerged victorious less than two weeks ago against the #oilers in a shootout after a wild 3-on-3 overtime. Edmonton has struggled in recent years against Buffalo, going 4-3-3 in their last 10 meetings. Stuart Skinner gets the start for Edmonton and it should be a fun game to watch!

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