The Carolina Hurricanes will try to keep their point streak alive on Sunday afternoon, wrapping up their four-game road trip in Buffalo. The team earned a tough victory in Winnipeg on Friday night, getting a pair of goals from Jordan Staal, big moments from Seth Jarvis and Nikolaj Ehlers, and two assists each from Sebastian Aho and K'Andre Miller.
While the win was two points well earned, it came with a little baggage. Before the game, Alexander Nikishin was scratched for the returning Jalen Chatfield. It was great having Chatfield back in the lineup, but I didn't like Nikishin being scratched over Mike Reilly. Also, Pyotr Kochetkov was supposed to start, but he wasn't feeling great on Friday. Brandon Bussi stepped in and delivered a strong start.
On the Other Side: Buffalo Sabres
Last meeting: The Hurricanes welcomed the Sabres to Raleigh on November 8th. After trading goals in the first period, it felt like the Canes had pulled away, scoring three unanswered to lead 4-1 early in the third. Back-to-back goals for the Sabres made it close, but the Canes hit the empty net twice to win, 6-3. Charles Alexis Legault (1G, 1A) and Joel Nystrom (1A) each recorded their first NHL points.
The Sabres' loss in Raleigh began a four-game road trip that ended with them only picking up one win, albeit an exciting one, winning 5-4 in overtime in Detroit. Since returning home, the Sabres are starting to put it together. They've won three of their last four, including a walloping of the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday, 9-3, with eight different goal scorers and nine players with two or more points.
Though they were the only team in the Eastern Conference with a sub-.500 record heading into Saturday, Friday indicated that this team is able to score in bunches when they're really clicking. Tage Thompson and Alex Tuch remain their leading point scorers, each entering Sunday with 20 points. Thompson also holds the team lead with 11 goals.
The area of their game that still holds them back is their defense and goaltending. The Sabres are among the worst in the league in goals allowed per game. That stat makes it all the more baffling that they own the league's best penalty kill, operating at an 88.5 percent success rate, while allowing just seven goals to opposing power plays. The Canes happen to have one of those seven.
Sabres to Watch
Alex Tuch: We have talked about "Canes Killers" in the past, and Tuch is one that has floated under the radar for too long. He has points in his last four games against the Canes, including a goal and an assist earlier this month, and 10 points in 12 meetings since joining the Sabres in 2021. Tuch is also coming off a four-assist game on Friday against the Blackhawks.
Jason Zucker: Returning to the lineup on Friday after missing almost three weeks, Zucker hadn't appeared to lose a step, scoring a goal and adding two assists. He wasn't on the ice when the teams met in Raleigh, so his return is a big one for an offense that has already lost several more players to injuries.
Hurricanes to Watch
Alexander Nikishin: This one is two-fold because we need to determine whether or not he's actually playing. If Nikishin returns to the lineup, and there's no reason he shouldn't, I expect him to be a man possessed. He watched from the press box as his team fought in Winnipeg. I would think he'll be ready to go. Dare I predict a multi-point afternoon for him?
Jalen Chatfield: There were times on Friday night when it appeared that Chatfield hadn't played in a bit. There were also times, like his assist on Jordan Staal's second goal, that indicate he's perfectly fine. With the first game back under his belt, I'm hoping to see him back in his element and shutting down whoever is thrown out against him.