Pittsburgh, Pa. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - The Buffalo Sabres play their first North American road game on Wednesday in Pittsburgh against the Penguins.
Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff says JJ Peterka will be available to return after missing two games with a concussion.
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen will be in net. He’s 0-2-0 this season with a 2.56 goals-against average and an .886 save percentage.
After a good preseason, Ruff took Sam Lafferty out of the lineup on Saturday. In the first three games, Lafferty had taken two offensive zone penalties, and Ruff is cracking down on those types of penalties. He says there were other reasons why too.
"Some of it is [Peyton] Krebs had played really well. His compete was at a real high level, and he was doing a little bit more. And the decision to take him out was based on a couple penalties, on play, what you’re bringing," explained Ruff following Wednesday's optional morning skate. "Through the preseason, we saw a lot of good stuff, but we need more. I’ve had meetings with several players that the compete level has to be at a high level, and we expect that out of all our guys."
Since Nicolas Aube-Kubel got hurt, Ruff feels Lafferty has been a little lost.
Alex Tuch leads the Sabres in scoring with two goals and two assists for four points in four games.
One area that has improved greatly in the early going this season is faceoffs. Ryan McLeod has won 55.6% of his draws, while Krebs is at 54.6%, Tage Thompson is at 53.5% and Dylan Cozens is at 52.2%.
In the early going, Buffalo is 10th in the league with a 3.00 goals-against average average. However, they’re 28th in goal scoring at 2.00.
Buffalo is one of four teams, including the Toronto Maple, with no power play goals.
The Sabres are 5-2-2 in their last nine games against Pittsburgh.
Penguins captain Sidney Crosby comes into the game with 1,599 NHL points. With one more point, he will become the 10th player in NHL history with 1,600 points. Crosby has played 1,276 career NHL games.
Against the Sabres, Crosby usually has big games. In 59 career contests against Buffalo, he has 28 goals and 54 assists for 82 points.
Evgeni Malkin is fourth in league scoring with seven points in four games this year. Against Buffalo, he’s played 53 games and has 21 goals and 48 assists for 69 points.
Tristan Jarry will get the call in goal for the Penguins. He hasn’t had a good start to the season, but he loves playing the Sabres.
In 12 games against Buffalo, Jarry is 9-3-0 with a 2.16 goals-against average and a .922 save percentage. This season, though, he’s 1-1-0 with a 4.50 goals-against average and an .866 save percentage.
Pittsburgh has wins against the Detroit Red Wings and Montreal Canadiens. Their losses have come to the New York Rangers and the Leafs.
In their last nine games at home against the Sabres, the Pens are 7-2-0. They’re 11-5-1 in their last 17 against Buffalo.
Wednesday's game is a radio only broadcast, so be sure to tune in during "Schopp and the Bulldog" at 6 p.m. ET for pregame on WGR. There, you will hear from Ruff, Krebs and Jordan Greenway.