SAN JOSE – The Buffalo Sabres aren’t just playing well; they are currently the standard-bearer for the National Hockey League. As they pull into the SAP Center tonight to face the San Jose Sharks, they do so as the league’s most dominant force over the last three months.
Since December 9, no team has more wins (31) or points (64) than Buffalo. To put that in perspective, they’ve outpaced the next-closest team, the Carolina Hurricanes, by a staggering 10 points in that span.
Road Warriors Pursuing History
The Sabres enter tonight’s contest riding a franchise-record 11-game road point streak (10-0-1) that dates back to January 20. A massive reason for that success has been the play between the pipes.
Alex Lyon gets the nod tonight, looking for his 10th consecutive road victory. If he pulls it off, he joins elite company—only three other goaltenders in NHL history (Evgeni Nabokov, Devan Dubnyk, Carey Price, and Kevin Lankinen) have ever hit double digits for consecutive road wins. Lyon and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen have formed a “double-headed monster” in net, with both sporting a sparkling .925 save percentage since mid-January.
Lineup Notes: Tuch Returns
There was good news at the morning skate as Alex Tuch was back on the ice after missing Tuesday’s victory in Vegas due to illness. Tuch reclaimed his spot on the top line alongside Tage Thompson and Zach Benson, providing a significant boost to an offense that is already averaging an NHL-best 4.27 goals per game on the road during this streak.
Milestone Watch: Rasmus Dahlin
Keep an eye on number 26 tonight. Rasmus Dahlin is on the verge of climbing higher in the franchise record books. With his next even-strength point, Dahlin will surpass Mike Ramsey for sole possession of second place in Sabres history for even-strength points by a defenseman.
Dahlin has been on a tear with 31 points in his last 25 games, and he seems to particularly enjoy playing the Sharks, tallying 12 points in his last 10 meetings against them.
Matchup at a Glance
Historically, San Jose has been a “get right” opponent for Buffalo. The Sabres hold an all-time points percentage of .692 against the Sharks—their highest mark against any active franchise.
| Category | Buffalo Sabres | San Jose Sharks |
| Record | 42-20-6 (90 PTS) | 32-28-6 (70 PTS) |
| Goals Against/Game | 2.94 (T-10th) | 3.53 (31st) |
| Penalty Kill | 83.2% (3rd) | 78.8% (17th) |
| 5-on-5 SAT% | 49.2% (18th) | 45.5% (32nd) |
The Sharks will counter with teenage sensation Macklin Celebrini, who continues to put up historic numbers for a player his age, but they face a daunting task against a Buffalo squad that has won 10 of 11 games since the Olympic break.
Puck Drop: 10:00 PM ET
TV: MSG (Pregame at 9:30 PM)
Radio: WGR 550
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