The Buffalo Sabres vs Blackhawks preview for Thursday centers on a steep gap in the standings. Buffalo (8-6-3) visits Chicago (4-13-1) at United Center on Thursday, Nov. 12, with puck drop set for 8 p.m. ET. The Blackhawks have lost five straight games, while the Sabres won the only previous meeting this season and arrive looking to pad a modest two-game cushion over their Atlantic Division rivals in the standings race.
Buffalo Sabres Vs Blackhawks Game Information
- Date: Thursday, Nov. 12
- Time: 8 p.m. ET
- Venue: United Center, Chicago, IL
- TV/Streaming: ESPN+, MSGB, CHSN
- Season series: Buffalo leads 1-0
How Bad Has Chicago’s Slide Gotten?
Chicago has dropped five consecutive games, a stretch that includes a 9-2 loss at Carolina on Nov. 8 and a 5-4 overtime loss to Boston on Oct. 31. The Blackhawks sit last in the Central Division with nine points, 10 fewer than seventh-place St. Louis. Chicago has allowed 76 goals in its first 18 games, a mark that works out to 4.22 goals against per game in the season totals, by far the worst defensive output of any team referenced in this preview.
Can Buffalo Stay Hot On The Road?
The Sabres have alternated wins and losses over their last five games, going 3-2 with road victories over Anaheim (7-6) and Los Angeles (3-2) sandwiched around home losses to Ottawa and Vegas. Tage Thompson leads Buffalo with 10 goals and 19 points, while Zach Benson paces the team with 13 assists. Buffalo’s offense has produced 50 goals this season against 56 allowed, giving the Sabres a scoring margin that stands in sharp contrast to Chicago’s minus-37 goal differential.
Who Starts In Net?
Colten Ellis is projected as Buffalo’s probable starting goalie, while Spencer Knight is listed as Chicago’s probable starter. Buffalo’s goaltending tandem has posted a .880 save percentage as a team this season compared to Chicago’s .872 mark. The Sabres already have Alex Lyon on injured reserve with a left shoulder injury and an expected return date of Nov. 14, which has pushed more of the workload toward Ellis in recent weeks.
What Does The Injury Report Look Like?
Chicago is without two key contributors. Patrick Kane remains on injured reserve with an upper-body injury and an expected return date of Nov. 14, and defenseman Bowen Byram is also on injured reserve with an upper-body injury carrying the same target return date. Both absences leave Connor Bedard, who leads the Blackhawks with nine assists and 14 points, with less support up front.
Buffalo’s injury list is longer. Center Konsta Helenius is out with an upper-body injury and an expected return date of Nov. 17. Forward Justin Danforth is on injured reserve with an upper-body injury and a projected return of Nov. 22, and defenseman Matt Grzelcyk is on injured reserve with a lower-body injury targeting a Nov. 14 return. None of those absences directly affects Thursday’s probable starters, but they do thin Buffalo’s forward and defensive depth heading into Chicago.
The Key Matchup: Bedard Against A Leaky Blue Line
Bedard is Chicago’s only player with more than nine points this season, and he will be working without Kane as a complementary scoring option. Buffalo’s penalty kill has allowed eight power-play goals against on the season, while the Sabres’ own power play has converted eight goals on the man advantage, numbers that suggest special teams could shape how much room Bedard gets to operate. Chicago has managed just 39 goals as a team in 18 games, meaning puck luck has to swing dramatically for the Blackhawks to end their five-game skid against a Buffalo club that has scored 50 times.
What To Watch
Buffalo sits sixth in the Atlantic Division with 19 points, two points ahead of Toronto and seven behind fourth-place Ottawa, making every game a factor in a tightly bunched wild-card picture. Chicago, meanwhile, is trying to avoid a sixth straight loss and find any traction after an 0-for-5 skid that has dropped the team to last in the Central Division. The Sabres already hold the season series lead at 1-0, and a second win would extend that edge heading into the rest of the season.
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