The upcoming week promises an exciting showdown for the Buffalo Sabres as they face the Winnipeg Jets on two occasions. The first match occurs in Buffalo on Monday, followed by a return encounter in Winnipeg later in the week on Friday. Between these matchups, the Sabres will also travel to Philadelphia on Wednesday to take on the Flyers, marking the start of a challenging six-game road trip.
One piece of positive news for the Sabres is the return of center Josh Norris to the lineup on Monday night. Norris suffered an injury in the third period of the season opener but is making a quicker-than-expected comeback, just eight days shy of two months on the sidelines. To accommodate his return, defenseman Zach Metsa has been reassigned to the Rochester Americans.
The Sabres are entering this double-header against the Jets with a less-than-stellar record against them, sitting at 4-4-2 in their last ten matchups and a disappointing 3-5-2 at home recently. In comparison, the Jets have been gaining momentum with a 6-4-0 record in their last ten, including a streak of four consecutive victories in Buffalo.
A significant turning point for the Sabres comes as they face the Jets without top goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, who is sidelined for 4 to 6 weeks following knee surgery. Hellebuyck’s absence has seen the Jets struggle, with a record of 2-4-0 in the six games since he was injured. Former Sabres goalie Eric Comrie has filled in, recording a 3.03 goals-against average and an .891 save percentage during this period.
The Sabres will start Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen in goal, who holds a 3-3-1 record this season. Despite facing some challenges, he leads the team with a goals-against average of 2.73. In his recent appearances, Luukkonen has shown signs of improvement with a 2.46 goals-against average over his last five games.
Head coach Lindy Ruff emphasized the importance of focusing on his own team rather than getting caught up in the lineup changes of the Jets. He acknowledged the injuries the Sabres have faced but underscored the necessity for his players to step up and compete fiercely, regardless of their opponents’ circumstances.
Presently, the Sabres find themselves at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings with a points percentage of .480. They trail the Montreal Canadiens by five points for the third spot in the Atlantic Division and are lagging behind the Pittsburgh Penguins for the final Wild Card position.
On the flip side, the Jets sit in the eighth spot in the Western Conference playoffs, showcasing a points percentage of .542, certainly making this upcoming week pivotal for both teams.
Overall, the upcoming matches reflect a crucial juncture for the Buffalo Sabres as they seek to regain momentum and climb the standings while reintroducing key players to their roster. The excitement of the twin showdowns with the Jets could serve as a turning point in their season. Fans are encouraged to tune into WGR for pregame coverage starting at 6:30 p.m., featuring insights from Ruff, Norris, and Noah Ostlund.