Game #39 Preview & Open Thread: Sabers vs. Avalanche

On By Littum

Buffalo Sabres (14-20-4) vs. Colorado avalanche (23-15-0)

Puck Drop: 9:00 PM EST | Ball Arena | Denver, CO

TV: MSG

Know your opponent

Colorado avalanche

Record: 23-15-0 | 46 PTS

Last game: 5-2 win over Winnipeg (December 31)

Division Ranking: 3 in Central

PP: 23.5% (sable: 16.0%)

PK: 77.6% (sable: 78.2%)

What to see

1. Mittelstadt Mode… Or not

We’re going to see our old friend Casey Mittelstadt tonight and he’s been going through it a little late. He recently had a meaningless nine-game stretch come to an end a few weeks ago, and he *just* snapped a 19-game streak without scoring a goal. He also had a rough stretch where he failed to register a shot on goal in eight of nine games. He started the season hot, but has definitely struggled of late; still, he has collected 24 points (8-16) in 38 games. If you’re someone who cares about plus/minus, he’s also a minus-15 on the season – but has been a plus-3 in the last two games combined.

In the previous meeting between the Sabers and Avalanche this season, Mittelstadt was a minus-2 with one shot on goal in 12 minutes of ice time. Last season after joining the Avalanche, he had 10 points (4-6) in 18 games.

2. No repetitions

Tonight’s game is the second meeting of the season between the Sabers and the Avalanche. We all know what happened last time; The Sabers got off to a great start, going up 4-0 in the first period, and then things completely fell apart. A lot has happened since December 3 – barely a month ago – but at the same time it also feels as if nothing has happened, or nothing has changed. It’s a strange feeling, for sure.

3. Take Leading the Charge

Tage Thompson continues to lead the Sabers with 30 points in 33 games this season. He has scored 18 goals, the most on the team, while Alex Tuch has provided 16 assists. But let’s not overlook some of the other offensive producers either: Jason Zucker, JJ Peterka and Rasmus Dahlin also each have 26 points.

However, there is a significant difference when you look at the avalanche. Nathan MacKinnon is their leading scorer, and he has a whopping 61 points (14-47) on the season in just 38 games. Mikko Rantanen has also surpassed the 50-point mark (21-33-54), while Cale Makar (11-35-46) is not far behind. But then there is a big drop, with Mittelstadt and his 24 points next in line.

Buffalo Sabres

Extenders

Jason Zucker – Tage Thompson – Alex Tuch
JJ Peterka – Dylan Cozens – Jack Quinn
Zach Benson – Jiri Kulich – Peyton Krebs
Beck Malenstyn – Ryan McLeod – Sam Lafferty

Defense

Rasmus Dahlin – Bowen Byram
Mattias Samuelsson – Owen Power
Jacob Bryson – Connor Clifton

Goalkeepers: Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, James Reimer

Colorado avalanche

Extenders

Artturi Lehknonen – Nathan MacKinnon – Mikko Rantanen
Jonathan Drouin – Casey Mittelstadt – Ross Colton
Joel Kiviranta – Parker Kelly – Logan O’Connor
Jere Innala – Juuso Parssinen – Calvin de Haan

Defense

Devon Toews – Cale Makar
Samuel Girard – Josh Manson
Keaton Middleton – Sam Malinski

Goalkeepers: Mackenzie Blackwood, Scott Wedgewood (expected starter)