Sabres at Red Wings: Line Combinations, Gameday Updates, Key Matchups

Jeff Hancock

• 2 min read Front Page

Desperate to make the playoffs? I have a great idea!

Let's sit one of the best defensemen on the team!

Brendan Smith is not the problem with this defense. In fact, he's the exact opposite. He's one of the better d-men on this team all season long. For example:

So whatever. I'm angry and frustrated. Even my mom can tell that Niklas Kronwall has lost six steps and Jonathan Ericsson is just not good. But hey, can't sit the veterans no matter what. We have to ride them to the draft lottery! I blame Ken Holland for these types of decisions just as much as I blame Jeff Blashill. I don't even know what to say anymore. I'm just angry.

Detroit Line Combinations

Forwards

Justin Abdelkader Henrik Zetterberg Dylan Larkin
Darren Helm Pavel Datsyuk Anthony Mantha
Tomas Tatar Riley Sheahan Gustav Nyquist
Andreas Athanasiou Luke Glendening Brad Richards


Defensemen

Danny DeKeyser Kyle Quincey
Niklas Kronwall Alexey Marchenko
Jonathan Ericsson Mike Green


Goaltenders

Jimmy Howard (starting)
Petr Mrazek

Power Play units:

  1. Nyquist-Zetterberg-Larkin, Abdelkader (net front), Kronwall
  2. Tatar-Datsyuk-Mantha (net front), Richards, Green

Buffalo Line Combinations

Forwards

Evander Kane Ryan O'Reilly Nicolas Deslauriers
Zemgus Girgensons Jack Eichel Sam Reinhart
Marcus Foligno Johan Larsson Brian Gionta
Matt Moulson David Legwand Hudson Fasching


Defensemen

Josh Gorges Rasmus Ristolainen
Jake McCabe Zach Bogosian
Mark Pysyk Casey Nelson


Goaltenders

Chad Johnson (starting)
Nathan Lieuwen

Keys to the Game:

Start on time... and don't stop.

Duh. The Wings did okay in the starting on time department the last couple games. They ended up with 4-0 and 1-0 leads. Of course, once the opposing team scored on them all hell broke loose. They're such a soft team mentally. Probably Brendan Smith's fault.

Stop being losers

My goodness, have some pride and show some desperation. The Wings aren't a great hockey team this season, but they're not THIS BAD. It's not going to just magically all come together and be okay. The Flyers and Bruins aren't going to all the sudden lose the rest of their games.

Fun Facts!