Buffalo begins a 3-game road trip tonight in Winnipeg.
By Chad DeDominicis / Diebytheblade.com
What to Watch
1. Slow start for Patrik Laine
The Jets sniper Patrik Laine is off to an uncharacteristically slow start this season. He has eight goals in 17 games, but only one of them have come at even strength. The 20-year-old Finn has the talent to take over a game if the Sabres don’t keep him in his current slump.
2. Stay out of the box
If the Sabres get into penalty trouble tonight it could be a rough evening. The Jets hold the top power play unit in the league. They have a dangerous first power play group with Laine, Kyle Connor, Blake Wheeler, and Mark Scheifele.
3. Lineup Shuffling
Phil Housley is making some more changes to his lineup for tonight. It looks like Patrik Berglund will get back in the lineup and Evan Rodrigues will come out of the lineup as a healthy scratch. Berglund also will slot in on the top power play unit tonight, to see if some changes can get the man advantage clicking again.
4. Another Backup
The Sabres will face another second-string goaltender tonight. Laurent Brossoit will be between the pipes for the Jets in place of a Connor Hellebuyck. He’s not Hellebuyck, however, Brossoit is having a good season. In three starts he’s 3-0, with a .957 save percentage, and 1.68 goals against average.