The Buffalo Sabres have several things that the Dallas Stars don’t have. One of them is Lindy Ruff, who took over as head coach over the off-season. They also have a beat reporter for The Athletic (and truth be told, Matthew Fairburn is a good read). They also have a young, dependable defensive core – all in their 20s, and with high expectations that the group will lead Buffalo to the promised land (or at least the playoffs).
What the team doesn’t have is much beyond a first line of forwards. 22 year old J. J. Peterka joins Tage Thompson and Alex Tuch on a line that matches up with the better to lines across the league. They’re all off to good starts to the season.
Down the lineup, there are some holes that can be exploited, although the team is getting Jordan Greenway back after missing several games with a lower body injury.
The Sabres come into the game with a 2-5-1 record, including two losses to start the season in the Global Series in Europe. 5×5 play isn’t what is killing the team – its special teams. Buffalo has yet to score on the power play and has given up six goals on the penalty kill.
All told, the Sabres probably deserve better than they’ve received this season. What the team hasn’t been getting is timely saves – and that is the difference between the two teams headed into the Tuesday night matchup.
Dallas Stars Lineup
Jason Robertson (21) – Roope Hintz (24) – Logan Stankoven (11)
Mason Marchment (27) – Matt Duchene (95) – Tyler Seguin (91)
Jamie Benn (14) – Wyatt Johnston (53) – Evgenii Dadonov (63)
Mavrik Bourque (22) – Sam Steel (18) – Colin Blackwell (15)
Miro Heiskanen (4) – Matt Dumba (3)
Thomas Harley (55) – Ilya Lyubushkin (46)
Esa Lindell (23) – Nils Lundqvist (5)
Jake Oettinger (29)
Casey DeSmith (1)
Tyler Seguin, Sam Steel and Matt Dumba are all back skating with the team and are on the trip. Thanks to Jake Oettinger (and a bit of Casey DeSmith), the Stars have maintained their winning ways in spite of the early season injuries. Dumba was taken of injured reserve this morning, so expect him to return to his spot in the lineup.
The Marchment, Duchene and “X” line continues to drive play for the team, which is fortunate, since nobody else is showing any consistency. Nothing to worry about yet – but Pete DeBoer teams thrive on having all lines playing and contributing. The top line has shown a few signs of life, and the fourth line has been a pleasant surprise, but Benn and Johnston need to find a way to recapture their success that they showed playing together last season.
Buffalo Sabres Lineup
John-Jason Peterka (77) – Tage Thompson (72) – Alex Tuch (89)
Jiri Kulich (20) – Dylan Cozens (24) – Jack Quinn (22)
Jason Zucker (17) – Ryan McLeod (71) – Jordan Greenway (12)
Beck Malenstyn (29) – Peyton Krebs (19) – Sam Lafferty (81)
Rasmus Dahlin (26) – Henri Jokiharju (10)
Bowen Byram (4) – Owen Power (25)
Mattias Samuelsson (23) – Connor Clifton (75)
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (1)
Devon Levi (27)
The Sabres are missing Nicolas Aube-Kubel, but with Greenway back, they are now close to fully healthy. The exception being Zach Benson, a 2023 first round draft pick who was slated to get time coming out of camp, but has been out since the first game.
Because he has Razor’s favorite name, expect Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen in net. The Finnish netminder is not off to a great start (3.26 GAA and .895 Save%), but he did enough last season to earn the number one position for Buffalo.
Things to Watch
Special Teams.
On the power play, both teams have been struggling. For the Stars, passing has been predictable and the shots off the wing haven’t been making it to the net. The Sabres have been worse. Fate could make this a special teams game – does that turn into a car wreck, or does one of the two squads have a breakout game?
Mavrik Bourque.
When Bourque broke into the AHL, it took him a few months to get comfortable and for his game to take off. The rookie has subtle skills, and that doesn’t lend itself easily to an eye popping start. Starting the season injured didn’t help. Watch Bourque full rink game – is he making subtle plays or does he look lost?
Jamie Benn/Wyatt Johnston.
Things haven’t clicked in yet. Keep an eye on this pair – why aren’t they creating dangerous chances and how are they getting penned into the defensive zone?