Buffalo, NY (WGR 550) - Starting in Calgary, Zach Bogosian started to struggle, so he's going to be a healthy scratch on Thursday for the Sabres. Ralph Krueger said, "We've got eight defensemen that we feel very comfortable with and it's just the mix.
"There is a defending by committee situation going on here, and we like the way the defensive corps here is playing. He's had 10 good games of growth and now has an opportunity to take a breath, and we can work with him on a few things and then we'll make our decision for the next game."
Krueger wouldn't say if Rasmus Dahlin is returning after missing eight games with a concussion, but he will dress with six other defensemen for warmup. Casey Mittelstadt and Conor Sheary skated extra with Carter Hutton, so they likely won't play either.
Linus Ullmark gets the call in goal. He has started nine of the last 12 games. Ullmark is 5-1-1 in his last seven starts and is carrying a .923 save percentage in those games.
The Sabres have points in 10 out of 12 games, going 5-2-3. Buffalo also has points in seven out of eight games, going 4-1-3. That has them tied for second in the Atlantic Division with Montreal, and one point in front of Florida. If you go by point percentage, it's the Panthers at .583, Tampa Bay at .569, Buffalo and the Canadiens at .563 and Toronto at .531.
Jack Eichel has points in 14 straight games. He has 25 points in those 14 games. Eichel's 20 goals ranks him third in the NHL and is just one behind Alex Ovechkin. His 44 points is seventh in the league.
In his last seven games, Johan Larsson has nine points.
Victor Olofsson has 18 points in his last 17 games.
The Sabres are 9-2-3 at home and are 4-1-1 in their last six games in this building.
Nashville has come in here and been a big problem for the Sabres as Buffalo hasn't beaten the Preds in eight games at home dating back to 2007.
Nashville seems to have straightened things out. Lately, they've been 5-1-2 after going on a 1-6-2 stretch.
Goaltending has never been a problem for Nashville, but this season it has been. Pekka Rinne has a goals-against average of 2.92 with a .897 save percentage, while Juuse Saros has a 2.97 goals-against average and a .896 save percentage.
Matt Duchene hasn't had the impact he had hoped to have when signing with Nashville. He has seven goals and 13 assists for 20 points in 28 games.
Neither team is very good at special teams. Dahlin said that watching games from up above has given him a different perspective on the power play, such as where some good shooting and passing lanes are.
You'll hear more from Dahlin, as well as Krueger and Jake McCabe on the pregame with Schopp and the Bulldog live from (716) Food and Sport starting at 6:00.
