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Probably as a safeguard in case Lehner wasn't able to go.

ESPN Preview: http://www.espn.com/nhl/preview?gameId=400962256 BUFFALO, N.Y. -- New year, same results for the Buffalo Sabres. Despite the change in the calendar, things remain the same for the struggling Sabres. Buffalo (10-23-9) has lost four games in a row since the start of the new year and will look to snap its losing streak against the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday. Buffalo is coming off a disappointing 4-1 loss to Philadelphia on Sunday, where center "I think he's just earned his way up," Sabres coach Phil Housley said, according to the team's website. "He's in a good spot. He's in a winning environment down there which is great for the culture of the team. It's just a great opportunity to see what he can bring to practice." "I really like his mobility obviously, but I like the stick detail that he has defensively and what he does from our goalie working out. Obviously, you look at him and he's joining the rush and he's making things happen back there." Buffalo will be without defenseman Victor Antipin, who is making his way back from a lengthy battle with the flu. "I think he's just got to work his way back in. He lost some weight, he's ill, and those things don't happen overnight," Housley said, according to the team's website. "He's going to take some time to gain some muscle, add some strength back, and right now he's just starting that. It's going to take a little bit of time for him." The Jets (25-11-7) are trending in the other direction. Winnipeg has won five of its last six games, with its only loss coming in overtime on Jan. 2 to the Colorado Avalanche. The Jets sit at the top of the Central Division with 57 points. This will mark the start of a three-game road trip, with games against Buffalo, Chicago and Minnesota. "They're a tough team," center Bryan Little said of the Sabres, according to the team's website. "They're a team that gives us some trouble. We expect the same thing in their rink. They have guys that can wheel out there, and some skilled forwards. If we go in with the same mindset where if we play tight defensively, not give them too many opportunities, and be patient with what we do, we'll be fine." Blake Wheeler leads the Jets in scoring with 50 points (14 goals, 36 assists) in 43 games. Connor Hellebuyck has a save percentage of .923 in 35 games. Winnepeg Sun Preview: http://winnipegsun.com/sports/hockey/nhl/winnipeg-jets/five-keys-to-jets-vs-sabres THE BIG MATCHUP Bryan Little vs Ryan O’Reilly These two second-line centres are responsible, two-way players and they’ll likely go head-to-head on Tuesday. O’Reilly snapped a five-game goal-less drought on Sunday, but has only four goals and eight points in 20 games against the Jets during his career. Little has a goal and three points during his past four games, but 10 goals and 23 points in 27 games against the Sabres. Keys to the game Picking up the slack Injuries are part of the game and despite being without top-line centre Mark Scheifele, who is expected to be out for six-to-eight weeks with a suspected shoulder injury, for the past four games and change, the Jets have gone 4-0-1 since the Christmas break. Strong goaltending and a balanced attack have been the keys to this recent stretch for the Jets. Offence from the back end With their top six blue-liners back together for the first time in 24 games on Sunday, the Jets got three assists from D-men Tyler Myers (two) and Jacob Trouba (one). The Jets also got a pair of goals from defencemen in Friday’s win over the Sabres, as Trouba and Dustin Byfuglien found the back of the net. PK on the rise The Jets penalty kill has been an area of concern for the past few seasons, but a slow start seems like a distant memory. By allowing only one goal during the past six games while shorthanded, the Jets efficiency has increased to 81.5% on the season, which moved them to 12th in the NHL in that department. The Sabres feature the worst power play in the NHL. Making it count Although he was limited to fewer than five minutes of ice time on Sunday, Jets winger Marko Dano scored for the second time in four games after missing 30 in a row as a healthy scratch. Dano’s nifty redirection proved to be the game-winner in a 4-1 victory, but he was left out of the rotation as head coach Paul Maurice cut down to three lines for the final 10 minutes. Kane is able Former Jets left-winger Evander Kane has put together an impressive season for the Sabres, chipping in 16 goals (to lead his team) and 35 points (second on team and one point behind Jack Eichel) in 42 games. Kane has only one assist in four games against the Jets, but is going to be one of the most sought-after power forwards prior to the NHL trade deadline. LET'S GO BUFFALO VS

If they were fish you'd never have to fish again Eleven

Well the good thing about living in an open carry state like Texas is the first time someone did that, would be the last time they did that!!!!

Glad to see Reinhart and Kane get goals yesterday although I missed it because it was all I could stand when it became 6-0. It will be interesting to see if Kane still gets booed here 6 Goals 11 Saves, not a very good stat line for any Goalkeeper I'll be watching because they couldn't get any worse than they were yesterday. Here's some game previews from ESPN and the Winnepeg Sun ESPN Preview: WINNIPEG, Manitoba -- If the Winnipeg Jets could figure out how to play in overtime or the shootout, look out. Sitting in second place in the ultra-competitive Central Division with 53 points, the Jets have lost all six of their games that have been decided in overtime this season and they've won one of the two contests that went to a shootout. The lone post-regulation victory was over the Philadelphia Flyers on Nov. 16. Avalanche defenseman Erik Johnson orchestrated the latest setback, a 3-2 overtime loss in Denver on Tuesday night, by beating Connor Hellebuyck on a breakaway with less than 10 seconds to play in the fourth period. "I'm sick of these overtime losses," the 24-year-old netminder told The Winnipeg Sun. "I know this isn't how the playoffs are going to go, but I'd like to have these points. I thought we deserved more." In the silver-lining department, the Jets salvaged a point after trailing 2-0 following the second period. Captain Blake Wheeler scored both Jets goals, one to start the period and the second with 33 seconds left in regulation. They also outshot the Avs 44-26. The Jets welcomed defenseman Dustin Byfuglien back to the lineup in Denver, after he missed 10 games with a lower-body injury. He has 15 assists in 29 games but is still looking for his first goal of the year. He nearly ended things Tuesday but was foiled by Jonathan Bernier on a breakaway seconds before Colorado scored. It appears as if Toby Enstrom could join him against Buffalo. The diminutive Swedish rearguard has been out with a lower-body injury since mid-November. He exchanged his non-contact jersey at practice Thursday for a full-contact one. The Sabres flew into town immediately following a 6-2 thumping at the hands of the Minnesota Wild on Thursday night, a game that only looks semi-respectable because the Wild took their foot of the accelerator after building a six-goal lead through two periods. "It was really nothing that Minnesota did -- they capitalized on their opportunities I'll give them credit -- but it was what we gave them," Sabres coach Phil Housleysaid. "We gave them too much, we left too much on the table when we didn't have to. Playing on the road like this against a good team fighting for a playoff spot, we knew they were going to try to come and we've just got to be smart about it and tonight we weren't." It's possible the Sabres could be without the services of defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen, who was assessed a five-minute major for interference and a game misconduct for his open-ice headshot on Wild captain Mikko Koivu in the first period. It's not known yet whether the hit will yield any further discipline from the league but Koivu, who went to the locker room for some stitches, returned with a puffy lip to score his team's fifth goal. "I think there should have been a call on the play, but I don't agree with five minutes," said Housley, who was a star defenseman for Jets 1.0 in the early 1990s. WINNEPEG SUN Preview: Winnipeg Jets vs Buffalo Sabres THE BIG MATCHUP Stopping Kane, Eichel They likely won’t be on the same line, but Evander Kane and Jack Eichel are far and away the Sabres’ top guns, with 15 goals apiece going into Thursday’s game in Minnesota. Nobody else had hit double digits, whereas the Jets have six players with 10 or more goals. KEYS TO THE GAME Life without Scheif Three games in, the Jets are 2-0-1 since top centre Mark Scheifele went down with an apparent shoulder injury. Can converted centre Blake Wheeler and kid wingers Kyle Connor and Patrik Laine keep it going, producing while not being defensive liabilities? Help for the captain Wheeler is on fire, with four goals in his last three games. Nik Ehlers (six games without a goal), Laine (five) and Andrew Copp (11) are among those who aren’t. Others have been chipping in, though. As long as somebody does. The right mindset It would be easy to take the Sabres lightly. A mistake, too. Yeah, they’re dead-last in the East and have the league’s worst power play. They’re still an NHL team that can beat one that’s not ready to play. On ’em early You could say this about every Jets home game, but it’s especially true against a tired Buffalo team coming off a game in Minnesota, Thursday night. Reminding the Sabres early they’re not very good is probably halfway to beating them. They were 2-12-2 when trailing after one period. The goalies Paul Maurice has no immediate plans to rest Connor Hellebuyck, and if the Jets No. 1 goalie doesn’t give his coach a reason to, he can hold the net indefinitely. For now, he just has to out-play whomever’s at the other end. LETS GO BUFFALO VS

Money from guys on this site?? He'll be living under a bridge and begging for coins on a street corner in no time. Keep him in school.

He's having an off year by his standards pointwise but he's also the only dependable faceoff Center we have. He's also been carrying Okposo so far this year but Kyle does appear to be coming around lately so maybe part of his issues was concussion related.

Not wanting to sound goofy but wouldn't that make them your sister's parents which would then be Yours?? Having said that there is a term for your wife's siblings, sister in law, brother in law, but what is the correct terminology for their spouses?? Which I'm guessing is who you meant. My sister in laws spouse?? Gotta be something better than that. Having said all that, that is pretty cool of them to reach out to you!!

I've mentioned this before although this is a small sample We are 4-3-5 in our last 12 games In 10 of those contests we've give up 2 or less goals in regulation time In those same contests when we've scored 3 or more in regulation we are 3-0-1 OUR #1 PROBLEM IS WE DON'T SCORE ENOUGH Reinhart has 12 points so far this year. 6 on the power play. He's on pace to score 12 5v5 points for the year. Start right there as to what our problem is although he's far from alone.

YouBeRite ThatBeRite2, He be very much on the d4rk side lately

ESPN Preview http://www.espn.com/nhl/preview?gameId=400962225 ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Due to the World Junior Hockey Championship being played in their arena, the Buffalo Sabres have not had a true home game since Dec. 22 and won't again play in front of their home fans until Tuesday. But Sabres coach Phil Housley will at least get a taste of home on Thursday when his team visits Minnesota to face the Wild. Housley's family still lives in the Twin Cities suburbs, where his wife Karin is a Republican state senator and has recently announced her candidacy for the U.S. Senate. As for the campaign that Phil Housley is running in Buffalo, the team is still solidly in last place in the Eastern Conference, but the first-year Sabres coach is seeing some signs of hope. After their overtime loss to the New York Rangers in the Winter Classic on New Year's Day, the Sabres have collected at least a point in four of their last five games. "A lot easier, believe me. Early on in the season there were a lot of struggles and a lot of games we were in were one-goal games or we were even. We were just cracking at the wrong time, making a critical mistake at the wrong time, and they were tough," Housley said. "It was tough on our hockey club and our coaches because we kept trying to grind it out and trying to find different areas where we could improve. We're playing a better brand of hockey now. You can see the confidence growing in our guys. ... There are times when we bend but we don't break, which is a credit to our team." Buffalo's players have noticed a new, better feeling, both on the ice and in the locker room. "We're definitely making strides and playing more consistently the way we want to play, which is usually a good sign," said forward Jason Pominville, who will be returning to Minnesota after the Wild traded him to Buffalo over the summer. The Wild opened 2018 with a decisive 5-1 win over the Florida Panthers on Tuesday, getting two goals each from Matt Cullen and Eric Staal. They were boosted by the return of Zach Parise to their lineup after the star left winger had missed the first half of the season due to back surgery. "I felt really good from the start," said Parise, who had three shots and skated more than 13 minutes versus the Panthers. "Kind of re-learning different spots on the ice where you get pressured. But that'll come. Conditioning-wise, everything else actually felt really good." Wild coach Bruce Boudreau sounded confident after the Florida game that they may inch closer to full health soon with the return of forward Nino Niederreiter, who has missed five games with a lower-body injury. Niederreiter was a full participant in the Wild's practice on Wednesday and Boudreau expects him in the lineup versus Buffalo. Minneapolis Star Tribune Preview http://www.startribune.com/sports/wild/ Former Wild winger Jason Pominville (29) and first-year Sabres coach Phil Housley, a Minnesota native, visit Xcel Energy Center for the first and only time this season on Thursday. Homestand continues Preview: The Wild concludes a brief two-game homestand against the Sabres, whom the Wild defeated 5-4 on Nov. 22. Since Nov. 14, the Wild is tied for second in the NHL in home points (21). This is the Sabres’ first game since they fell 3-2 in overtime to the Rangers at the Winter Classic. Overall, Buffalo has collected at least a point in three games in a row (1-0-2). Players to watch: Center Jack Eichel leads the Sabres in points with 35. Defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen has scored in each of the past two games. Former Wild winger Jason Pominville has eight goals and 16 points, and former Wild defenseman Marco Scandella has zero goals and 10 assists. Numbers: Center Matt Cullen is one point shy of 700 for his career. The Wild is 7-1-1 when center Eric Staal records two or more points. Seven of the 10 all-time games between the Wild and Sabres at Xcel Energy Center have been decided by one goal. Buffalo is 7-5-5 when scoring first. LET'S GO BUFFALO VS

Sabre notes: In the last 12 games we are 4 wins 3 losses and 5 regulation ties Lehner has only give up 3 goals in 1 on his last 10 games played Our #1 problem from those stats is we are not scoring enough goals not a defense or goalkeeping issue Jack's effort level and defense has kicked up big time in the last month Bogosian coming back from another injury also coincides with the teams improved play of late In a non-playoff team you can blow off the last 10 games of the season because no-one is taking you seriously The Sabres improved play so far this year has been against teams that are fighting for playoff position no-one is blowing them off 4-3-5 last 12 games again 6-17-4 in prior 27 games The eye test and losing only 3 games in regulation in their last 12 games show they are improving. Reinhart with a hit albeit a weak one and a goal, hopefully that boosts his confidence. Risto's play also improving lately Power Play improving 4th line can't score but are controlling play Negatives No 3rd line scoring 3rd pairing D is in desperate need of improvement

This

Reasons for Buffalo Sabres fans to be optimistic They are 4-3-4 in their last 11 games Jack is on FIRE right now 2017 is over Defense is playing better Girgensons has come back from the dead We've won an OT game NY Times Game Preview: Sabres Return to Spotlight for the Winter Classic’s 10th Anniversary On Jan. 1, 2008, the Buffalo Sabres hosted the first Winter Classic, an outdoor game experiment by the N.H.L. The “snow globe” game at Ralph Wilson Stadium, in which Pittsburgh’s Sidney Crosby scored the shootout winner, was a hit. The Winter Classic claimed a spot on the New Year’s Day sports calendar, traditionally reserved for college football, and has consistently been the highest-rated game of the N.H.L. regular season. Since the opener in Orchard Park, N.Y., there have been outdoor games at distinctive ballparks like Wrigley Field in Chicago and Fenway Park in Boston and a frigid contest between the Detroit Red Wings and the Toronto Maple Leafs in Ann Arbor, Mich., that drew more than 105,000 fans. The N.H.L. has expanded its outdoor offerings to include multiple stadium games a year, like the one in Ottawa about two weeks ago to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the league’s first games. The last 10 years have been less successful for the Sabres, who will return to the Winter Classic on Monday, playing the Rangers at Citi Field. Buffalo has the Eastern Conference’s worst record, with only 10 wins in 38 games. That is by far the fewest wins of any team to participate in the Winter Classic. The season before the first Winter Classic, the Sabres had a league-best 53 wins, paced by the offensive prowess of Chris Drury and Daniel Briere, and they advanced to the conference finals for a second consecutive year. They have not won a playoff series since and have not reached the postseason since 2011. Despite gaining high draft picks that yielded the heralded forwards Jack Eichel and Sam Reinhart, the Sabres are struggling even more under their first-year coach, Phil Housley. He is the team’s fifth coach in six seasons. But when it came to planning the Winter Classic’s 10th anniversary, those troubles did not matter to the N.H.L. or NBC Sports. “The Sabres deserve this,” said Sam Flood, executive producer of NBC Sports. “They were the ones that took the risk. The Sabres were the club that stepped up and turned it into a must-see TV moment. I think it changed the way hockey was viewed.” Jason Pominville, now an elder statesman with the Sabres at 35, recalled being awed participating in the first Winter Classic. He expressed confidence that the Sabres would bring a spirited effort to the national audience despite their dismal record. “It’s easy to get motivated for these type of games,” said Pominville, a former Sabres captain. “You have to put aside the fact we’re not playing the way we would want to, and just go out there and enjoy it.” The Sabres pinned their hopes on Eichel, who came out of the once-in-a-generation draft class in 2015 that included Connor McDavid, the league’s reigning most valuable player. Eichel has been among the team’s offensive leaders in his first three seasons, but he has not had the impact in the standings that McDavid has had in Edmonton. Pominville said he understood the microscope Eichel was under and hoped national attention could inspire his young teammate. Eichel, 21, recently signed a 10-year, $80 million contract extension that begins next season. “He deserves to be there on the big stage,” Pominville said of Eichel, who has 15 goals this season. “He’s a guy who handles it well. He’s an elite player.” Eichel, who is from North Chelmsford, Mass., said he was excited by the prospect of his first outdoor game. “I’ve never played outside before. I don’t really know what to expect,” he said. “I’m excited I’m able to be part of it, able to share this moment and entire experience with my family. For people that are close to me, it’s pretty special.”The Sabres pinned their hopes on Eichel, who came out of the once-in-a-generation draft class in 2015 that included Connor McDavid, the league’s reigning most valuable player. Eichel has been among the team’s offensive leaders in his first three seasons, but he has not had the impact in the standings that McDavid has had in Edmonton. Because of tax exemption rulesin New York, the Sabres will be the home team against the Rangers at Citi Field, the Mets’ stadium. The Rangers, one of the league’s most popular teams, will be playing in their second Winter Classic and their fourth outdoor game over all. The Rangers edged the Flyers, 3-2, at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia in the 2012 Winter Classic, and they played two games at Yankee Stadium in January 2014 as part of that season’s Stadium Series. The forecast is among the coldest for any outdoor game played in the United States. The average temperature through 23 previous outdoor games is 35.5 degrees, but Monday’s forecast for New York is a temperature around 20 degrees. It appears Buffalo’s weather will come with the Sabres, and that makes Jon Miller happy. Miller, the president for programming at NBC Sports, recalled the amazement he felt driving to the stadium on the morning of Jan. 1, 2008, and seeing tailgating fans everywhere. It was a football party before a hockey game. “Seeing the parking lot packed with people grilling, throwing footballs and playing street hockey, it reminded me of the parking lot before an A.F.C. championship game in Buffalo,” Miller said. “It has proven to be a special event.” For the veteran Rangers defenseman Marc Staal, the game is a treat amid the grind of the season. “The atmosphere, there’s nothing like it,” he said. “It brings you back to being a kid and playing the game in its purest form. That’s always a lot of fun.” Pominville, who also played in an outdoor game in Minnesota against Chicago in 2016, said that he was grateful for the chance to participate in another Winter Classic and that he had spoken to teammates about the importance of embracing the experience and sharing it with family. “My kids — who are 8 and 6 — weren’t even born when I played my first one,” he said. “So this game for me will mean even more.” He added: “Every year, even when I’m not playing, I enjoy watching it just being a fan. It’s a day to celebrate hockey.” ESPN Preview NEW YORK -- The Buffalo Sabres and the New York Rangers take center stage for the National Hockey League on New Year's Day, meeting outdoors at Citi Field for the league's 10th annual Winter Classic. The Sabres will be the home team when the teams take the ice at the home of the New York Mets in Queens. Though the clubs are headed in opposite directions this season, players from both sides are excited for the opportunity to take part in the NHL's showcase event. "It'll definitely be a cool experience," said veteran defenseman Zach Bogosian, whose Sabres (10-20-8) reside in last place in the Eastern Conference. "It'll be pretty cool to know everyone is watching. It's been awesome to be part of the experience, and I'm looking forward to (Monday)." Unlike the struggling Sabres, the Rangers (20-13-5) are in the thick of the playoff race in the East. Their enthusiasm for the Winter Classic was equally evident after practicing outdoors on Sunday afternoon. "Being here now really gets the excitement started," Rangers captain Ryan McDonagh said. "It's hard to talk about during the season when it's so far away, but now finally being here, you see the stadium, you see the spectacle that it is, it's a special moment in the season, and we're very fortunate to get the opportunity to play in it." This is the second Winter Classic appearance for each team. The Sabres hosted the very first one on Jan. 1, 2008, a 2-1 shootout loss to the Penguins at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y. Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby scored the game-winner. The Rangers defeated the Flyers 3-2 on Jan. 2, 2012, at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia. In fact, the Rangers have never lost an outdoor game. Along with the 2012 Winter Classic victory, the Rangers also beat the New Jersey Devils and New York Islanders in consecutive Stadium Series contests at Yankee Stadium in 2014. Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist is a perfect 3-0-0 with a 2.00 goals-against average and a .933 save percentage in outdoor games. His three outdoor wins are more than any goaltender in league history. "It's always hard to look back at any type of game when you don't win," Lundqvist said. "If it's playoffs, Olympics or outdoor games, if you don't win the game, you don't walk around and think back on it with a big smile on your face. If you have a good game, you win, it's easier to go there mentally. So, that's what you make sure you want to do: play your best and make the most of it." Buffalo's Jason Pominville has a unique perspective. He played in that first Winter Classic for the Sabres, and 10 years later, he is a part of a more-established event. "The first one was a lot of unknown, but the way it went, the way the fans responded, the way the game ended, I don't think you could have asked for a better scenario for the league," Pominville said Sunday. "Now, the whole buildup around it, from press conferences in the summertime, TV shows, everything around it has been pretty amazing to be a part of. We're excited about it again, for sure." Sabres coach Phil Housley said that he hopes performing well on the big stage "springboards us" to a better second half this season. Buffalo is coming off an exciting 4-3, come-from-behind overtime victory at New Jersey on Friday. Perhaps, the hottest player in the league is Sabres center Jack Eichel, who has scored seven goals in his past six games. Eichel scored two goals Friday, giving him 15 this season. "Most kids, I think, dream of playing in this game, and I was no different," said Eichel, who brings a four-game point-scoring streak into Monday. "I am just so excited to be a part of it."The Rangers lost their last game, a 3-2 shootout loss at Detroit on Friday, and they are just 1-1-2 in their past four. "This game we're playing is very important," Rangers coach Alain Vigneault. "You look at the standings right now and everything is so tight. So, once the whole hoopla of (Sunday) and the family skating is over, (Monday) at 1:00 when the puck drops, it's going to be about the two points." LETS GO BUFFALO VS

ESPN Preview After winning the first five games, the New Jersey Devils look to close out their season-high six-game homestand with a perfect record Friday night when they host the Buffalo Sabres at the Prudential Center. The Devils (22-9-5) beat the Dallas Stars, Anaheim Ducks, New York Rangers, Chicago Blackhawks and Detroit Red Wings on this homestand, outscoring the opposition 20-10 in the process. Along the way, New Jersey's five-game winning streak is its longest overall this season. "We're not too worried about the streak, I think we're just worried about protecting home ice," explained Devils goalie Cory Schneider, who was outstanding Wednesday, making 31 saves in a 3-1 victory over the Red Wings. "We have the longest homestand of the year, and I think we've done a great job getting points while we are here. We've got to bank these points while we can." A four-game road trip follows this homestand for the Devils, though no one is looking that far ahead, nor past the struggling Sabres (9-20-8). "We want to make this a hard place to play in," stated Taylor Hall, New Jersey's leading scorer who has a three-game point streak entering play Friday. "I think a lot of guys are starting to feel comfortable in this building, and that's a huge thing. Our fans are providing a great atmosphere for us and I think that's a huge boost." Last season, the Devils won just 16 times on home ice. This season, they have 12 victories at The Rock in only 19 home games, part of a major transformation from last season in general. Currently sitting atop the Metropolitan Division with 49 points, the Devils finished last overall in the Eastern Conference in 2016-17 with only 70 points. The Sabres know quite well about being in last place, which is where they reside coming into play Friday. They have the second-fewest points in the league, own a minus-43 goal differential and average the fewest goals per game. "It's probably been the toughest season I've ever been a part of," veteran Sabres winger New York Islanders, the Sabres allowed a controversial game-tying goal by Josh Bailey with 69 seconds remaining in regulation -- one in which the on-ice call was overturned by video review -- and then lost 1:08 into overtime when goaltender Robin Lehner misplayed a shot by rookie Mathew Barzal. The frustration was too much for Lehner following a loss that dropped Buffalo to 4-12-6 since Nov. 10. "Everything is predetermined against us," Lehner told reporters. Almost beyond belief, the Sabres score on just seven percent of their shots this season. Johan Larsson is without a goal in 31 games, Jason Pominville has only two in his last 25 games, Sam Reinhart has not scored in 15 games and Benoit Pouliot has only a pair in 19 games. "It's frustrating," Sabres forward Jordan Nolan told the Buffalo News after practice on Thursday. "If we keep playing that way and keep getting chances, they're bound to go in sooner or later. We took a good step (Wednesday) night and played the right way. We just can't give up those late-period goals because you're not going to win a lot of hockey games playing like that." This is Buffalo's final game before taking part in the Winter Classic outdoor contest against the New York Rangers on Monday afternoon at Citi Field, home of baseball's New York Mets. The Devils pack their bags for a road contest Saturday against the Capitals in Washington, the start of their four-game road trip. NJ.COM Preview 6 questions entering Devils' final 2 games of 2017 Posted December 29, 2017 at 06:45 AM | Updated December 29, 2017 at 06:46 AM By Chris Ryan | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com The Devils will wrap up the 2017 calendar year with their final two games when they play the Buffalo Sabres at 7 p.m. on Friday at the Prudential Center in Newark, followed by an overnight trip to Washington for a 7 p.m. game on Saturday against the Capitals. The Devils have done everything they could have hoped for and then some in the first few months of the 2017-18 season, where they went 22-9-5. Now in the final two games before January, here are six questions facing the Devils, as they aim to add to their remarkable run. Who will play in goal? The Devils will start Cory Schneider for an eighth straight game on Friday, and beyond that, they are still uncommitted. Schneider played the last back-to-back for the Devils, and coach John Hynes left open the chance that could happen again if Schneider plays well Friday and feels fresh Saturday. The Devils have three road games over eight days following the back-to-back, so the team will see where they're at when deciding on Schneider or backup Keith Kinkaid. "And that's why we want to go day-by-day. That's really where it stands," Hynes said. "We want to try to be able to give ourselves a chance to win and have a strong focus level. We believe in both players. Right now Cory's going to start (Friday), and we'll go from there." How will top six look going forward? Now that the Devils have played a couple games fully healthy at forward, they've shown a couple different versions of their top six. Wednesday's 3-1 win over the Detroit Red Wings, Jesper Bratt played right wing with Taylor Hall and Nico Hischier, while Kyle Palmieri was on the right with Marcus Johansson and Travis Zajac. The two combos seem like ones the Devils could stick with for the time being. "Hall, Hischier and Bratt have played really well," Hynes said. "They seem to have some chemistry they've developed, so it kind of made some sense to put those guys back together and keep them there. I think Kyle adds a different element with Marcus and Travis. He's an abrasive player, he's got a shot mentality. It gives you two lines that you feel you can play against anyone or any matchup." Is there a fix to second-period lulls? The Devils have been very happy with their starts to their past two games, and with their recent starts in general. They outscored the Blackhawks and Red Wings, 5-0, in the first periods over their last two games, but they saw both opponents flip the ice in the second period. The Devils survived both, but they want to avoid such dramatic swings in play against them. "There's going to be pushback throughout the game," Devils captain Greene told NJ Advance Media. "It's obviously trying to end it as fast as possible, flip it and get control back in our end. That's the part of teaching and learning with young guys, and even us as veterans. We gotta take but control of the game like that." What would sweeping a six-game home stand mean? Going into any season, a team can pinpoint their longest home stand of the season and view it as an opportunity to gain a good chunk of points if they use their home-ice advantage. The Devils have done just that so far, winning all five games of their current home stand. They can finish it off with a clean sweep on Friday against the Sabres. "The last two games, we've played well in segments, but there's been lulls in our game and some details that need to be better," Hynes said. "We want to finish off strong. We had a pretty focused day (Thursday) on areas we need to get better at, and we need to come out with the right mindset, play 60 minutes and try to finish it off the right way." How do Devils avoid classic trap game? While the Devils could have their eyes set on a key Metropolitan Division matchup on Saturday against the Capitals, where first place will likely be on the line, the team can't overlook Friday's game against the Sabres. Buffalo will enter with the second fewest points in the NHL, but Greene said the team is playing at a different level than the Devils' 6-2 win in the second game of the season. "We have to sit here and focus on the now," Greene said. "We've been in the situation where we've struggled in games, and there's no way we can look past opponents. We're still a young team, trying to prove ourselves and make sure we're playing the right way. You see it every night: if you don't come ready to play, it doesn't matter what team you play." Where is team's confidence at entering 2018? The Devils enter Friday tied for first place with the Capitals in the Metropolitan Division with 49 points, but the Devils have three games in hand to add to their total. The Devils could break the 50-point mark before the New Year following a 2016-17 season where they finished with an Eastern Conference low 70 points. Right now, the confidence and feeling in the Devils' room is something the team hasn't seen in some time. "It's been a few years, but it's been good though," Greene said. "It's been very positive, and very workman like, too. Guys know when we play the right way, we play well. We control the game, we control the pace and we're doing everything right." LET'S GO BUFFALO VS

Well maybe my mistake, I guess I didn't realize Millennials was such a push button term for you. Just remember your grandkids generation will be blaming you for everything soon enough. :w00t:

Dude I was sticking up for you, the lyrics to that 53 year old Beatles song can just as easily be translated for this year's Sabre/Lehner season

I see the millennials are going out strong to end the year. I'm a loser I'm a loser And I'm not what I appear to be Although I laugh and I act like a clown Beneath this mask I am wearing a frown My tears are falling like rain from the sky Is it for them or myself that I cry? I'm a loser I'm a loser And I'm not what I appear to be What have I done to deserve such a fate? I realize I have left it too late And so it's true pride comes before a fall I'm telling you so that we won't lose all

I watch all the Sabre games, an occassional game here and there and watch the playoffs. I can't ever remember a game being stopped during play that wasn't part of a review from one of the coaches to allow a goal. I might be wrong but Toronto stopped play and interfered with play to allow a goal?? If their coach requests a review to see the play, I'm good with it, but Toronto?? WTF is the NHL doing?? I'm just baffled by the play and again I don't think I've ever seen that before.

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What exactly are you talking about?? What numbers show he's bad??? His Corsi/F% stats are one of the best on the team. Of the 30 players who've played this year only 10 have a plus %. In fact he's top 5 in just about every offensive stat there is on this team including goal scorer and point producer.

IMO he was drafted to be optimistically a 1st line Center Realistically a 2nd line Center Worst case scenario a 3rd line Center He's none of these or doesn't appear to have the skill set to play there at this level As a winger, he needs good players to make him look good As opposed to him making good players better or any type of players better He never flashes any type of skill where you go DANG what a great play He never looks like he's the best player on his line no matter what it is 1 thru 4 He's not physical although he does have some size He's next to awful on the boards Points are important but what is it that he's exceptional at OR very good at No matter how you look at it, he's a disappointment as a 2nd pick in the draft Core because we still have hope Long term Core?? He'll have to step up his game big time to achieve this

Wait..... what??? There's more than one Bozo on this site???? Where are all the ROR fans???? Jack is the best player on this team but Kane is 2nd!!!! Dang, there I go with all the punctuations again , that and putting dates on things..... when will I ever learn

Your Buffalo Sabres will attempt to have their 2nd 2 game winning streak by playing the Hurricanes tonight. A solid outing by the Sabres led by Kane and Eichel, who were both flying around the ice yesterday. Move Kane off one line and suddenly his new line becomes the 5v5 scoring line for the team. Scandella and Risto both played over 29 and 28 minutes respectively yesterday so it will be interesting how Housley splits the D minutes tonight. Does Erod return to the lineup, does Gorges remain in the lineup??? Carolina is 3-1-1 in their last 5 games with an impressive win over the Predators in their last game and a just as impressive 8-1 loss to the Leafs. Which team shows up today?? LETS GO BUFFALO GAME PREVIEW NESN.COM RALEIGH, N.C. -- The Carolina Hurricanes have had extreme results throughout the season but perhaps nothing quite like this week. And there is no telling if Saturday night's home game against the Buffalo Sabres at PNC Arena will bring any sense of normalcy for the Hurricanes. There was Tuesday's 8-1 loss at Toronto followed by Thursday night's 4-1 victory at Nashville. So just keeping it together might look like a challenge at times for the Hurricanes (15-12-7). "You've got to have the 'pack of wolves' mentality, right?" Carolina coach Bill Peters said. It is a pattern that at times might not make sense, but at least the Hurricanes know that their fortunes can change quickly in either direction. "I think we've done that a few times," forward Derek Ryan said. "We've had some poor performances and then bounce back the next game. That builds character and some resiliency. I'm proud of the boys for doing that." It also creates some uncertainty about how the team might perform. Buffalo (9-19-7) has had fewer encouraging moments, though a 4-2 victory Friday night at home against the Philadelphia Flyers provided some positive vibes. The Sabres, who hold the second-worst record in the NHL, are 1-2-1 in their last four games. The lone point in that stretch before Friday came in an overtime loss Dec. 15 at home to Carolina. "Obviously trying to find the right formula," Buffalo coach Phil Housley said. "We're just trying to play a simple game." Housley said good things need to happen for the Sabres, whose confidence has been stunted at times. "The biggest thing for us is to get a good start," Housley said. "Try to back the other team off. ... Don't allow their fans and their energy to get any momentum. We've got to shoot pucks. We have to keep hammering that message." The Hurricanes should know the value of a good start because they're 13-3-2 when scoring first. Veteran Cam Ward has been the most consistent goalie for Carolina this month and he could be in line to start for the second game in a row after a strong performance in Thursday night's victory at Nashville. "When you get the opportunity to get in, you want to make the most of it and just try to do my job," Ward said. "Winning is fun. We're looking to end on a good note against Buffalo before the (holiday) break." The Hurricanes are 4-1-0 in their last five games, but they have been outscored 16-15 during that span because of the misery in Toronto. "Obviously things didn't go well in Toronto and we were embarrassed because of it," Ward said. The Sabres are playing on back-to-back nights, so that could put the lineup in flux. "It's some difficult decisions, but it also breeds some good internal competition and they all have to be sharp," Housley said. This is only the second home game in a three-week period for the Hurricanes, who are beginning a three-game homestand. For Buffalo, this game begins a three-game road stretch. VS

I'll give you this..... ROR was better 2 years ago Last year was a toss up, I thought both of them had their moments but Kane finished the year better This year, I don't think it's even close