On Monday, they will play the New York Rangers in the annual NHL Winter Classic outdoor game. They will then face the Minnesota Wild and Winnipeg Jets on back-to-back nights to end their week.
The Sabres need to find a way to slow down Mats Zuccarello and Mika Zibanejad since they are the two top point getters on the Rangers. Buffalo will want to limit their mistakes and not turn over the puck especially through the neutral zone and while breaking out of their own zone. The Sabres should make sure that they have plenty of traffic in front of the net to make it difficult for the goaltender to see the puck. Buffalo wants to make sure that they are better at even strength hockey, and they can do that by getting a good forecheck game established early and by making the smart play instead of just making a play to make a play. The Sabres need to play with discipline even though the Rangers power play is only in the middle of the pack in the NHL. If Buffalo takes too many penalties then it could come back and haunt them during the game.
The Rangers need to get off to a better start in this game since they've been outscored 33-30 in first periods of games. New York should be aware of when Jack Michael and Kyle Okposo are on the ice since they both can produce and put the puck in the net. The Rags want to get the first goal of the game and keep building on the momentum of that first goal. New York has a mediocre power play, but that doesn't mean that they shouldn't take advantage of the power play opportunities when they are there. The Rangers need to not play down to their opponent, get plenty of pucks towards the opposition's net and limit the mistakes when playing at even strength.
Buffalo will travel to Minnesota to take on the Wild on Thursday night. The Sabres will need to make sure that they are aware of where and when Jason Zucker and Eric Staal are on the ice since they are the leading scorers for the Wild. Buffalo wants to get the first goal of the game and take the home crowd out of the game. The Sabres are going to need to play a good defense oriented game since the Wild are pretty good on home ice. Buffalo needs to win the battle at even strength since the Wild have a really good penalty kill. The Sabres need to get some good goaltending in this game and saves need to be made.
The Wild want to make sure that they have the lead entering the final period of the game since they only have one come from behind win. Minnesota should attack and force turnovers since the Sabres are a team that will cough the puck up. The Wild need to make sure that they are competing and not just expecting to win the game because they are playing one of the worst teams in the NHL. Minnesota definitely will want to be better in the third period since they have been outscore 54-45 in the final periods of games so far this year.
The Sabres will finish out their week by visiting the Winnipeg Jets. Buffalo will need to get the power play going since they have been horrific on the power play so far this year. The Sabres want to get the first goal of the game and keep attacking, don't sit back. Buffalo will want to play a solid road game by limiting their mistakes, getting good goaltending, forcing turnovers and staying focused throughout the game. The Sabres will want to get off to a good start and establish the tone very early in this game. Buffalo needs to keep an eye on Blake Wheeler and Patrik Laine since both players can get on the board.
The Jets are going to want to make sure that they have the lead entering the final period of the game since they have one come from behind win when trailing after two periods. Winnipeg will need to be good while playing at even strength and not let the Sabres take it to them. The Jets will need to use their speed to get through the neutral zone and make the Sabres defenders back into the own zone and not let them stand up at the blue line. Winnipeg needs to get off to a good start and keep the home crowd in the game. The Jets will need to be aware of Jack Eichel and Evander Kane when they are on the ice because they have been two of the bright spots on the Sabres this year.
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