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Sabres’ Blog: Die by the Blade

Red Wings News

Michael Rasmussen had a heck of a game against Vegas with a goal, an assist, and seven shots on net. It’s not uncommon for rookies who come out a little wobbly at the season’s start to finally get their sea legs after the All-Star break. Hopefully the game against the Knights is a sign of things to come, because Ras was making havoc, using his size, and being a pain to play against. Anyone else calling for a 15 goal season from him after that last game?

Actual news from Detroit has been slow, as is usually the case when it comes to weekend matinée games. I originally wrote my expectation for Howard to start, but then I thought about how Blash and crew might want to give a rep to Bernier in the second game after the break to make sure he doesn’t go too long without seeing ice time. Let’s call it a 50/50. We will have the update for you later today when we know more.

Sabres News

After a swinging start to the season, the Sabres have cooled right off. They’ve played five games since coming back from the break, winning two and losing three. If you remove a 1-0 loss to Stars from the equation, they’ve never scored less than three in that span, but they have also given up four or more goals each time in that span. The offense might be running hot in Buffalo for Jack Eichel and friends (and all of them better be his friends, or they’ll be shown the door,) but the defense is just as cold.

The Sabres have been healthy lately, so they will be running full stop today, with Eichel centering former-Hurricane, Jeff Skinner, and Casey Middelstadt taking up position behind Eichel on the second line. Carter Hutton will almost certainly be getting the nod after Linus Ullmark sported a grizzly .800 save percentage on Thursday night when Carolina came to visit.