Dallas, Texas (WGR 550) – The Buffalo Sabres aren’t mathematically out of the playoffs yet, but Sunday’s loss in Detroit to the Red Wings all but put them away.
If the Sabres lose on Tuesday in regulation to the Dallas Stars, they will be officially eliminated from the playoffs.
The Sabres are in Dallas on Tuesday with just two road wins in their last eight games away from Buffalo.
If you’re looking for something positive to talk about, Tage Thompson has 11 goals and nine assists for 20 points in his last 14 games. Alex Tuch has 14 assists and 17 points in his last 13 games. JJ Peterka has seven goals and 10 points in 10 games.
Jeff Skinner has no points in his last nine games. He’s only scored goals in two of his last 17 games.
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has only given up 10 goals in his last four games, but he’s 2-2-0. Overall this season, he’s 26-21-3 with a 2.57 goals-against average and a .910 save percentage.
In their last two games where they had a power play, the Sabres are 3-for-4.
The Stars are second in the NHL, but No. 1 in the Western Conference with a .686 points percentage. They trail the New York Rangers by three points in the race for the Presidents' Trophy.
Buffalo is running into an absolute buzz saw on Tuesday, as Dallas has won 9-out-of-10 games and 14-of-17.
Jamie Benn hadn’t been putting up great numbers until this 17-game streak, where he’s had 12 goals and 13 assists for 25 points.
Wyatt Johnston is a young player who is 21-years-old, and he certainly isn’t feeling any pressure with 12 goals and 10 assists for 22 points in 17 games. In 78 games, Johnston has 31 goals and 33 assists for 64 points.
Jason Robertson is a 24-year-old that also doesn’t appear to be feeling pressure, as he’s the Stars' leading scorer with 27 goals and 50 assists for 77 points.
Joe Pavelski just continues to amaze at the age of 39. He has 26 goals and 39 assists for 65 points this season.
The Stars are second in the NHL, scoring 3.68 goals per-game. Their power play is fifth, while their penalty killing is ninth.
Jake Oettinger is 32-13-4 this season, but his numbers are pretty good, but not great. His goals-against average is 2.83 and his save percentage is .903. He certainly stole the show on Feb. 6, making 47 saves in a 2-1 Dallas win in Buffalo.
Last year, the Sabres won an overtime game in Dallas, 3-2.
Join Brian Koziol and myself for pregame coverage on WGR starting at 7 p.m. ET when you’ll hear from Don Granato, Henri Jokiharju and Zach Benson, who talks about how at age 18, he never lets pressure get to him, and who taught him about handling pressure.
