Bruins at Sabres
The Buffalo Sabres hope to snap their long playoff drought that has reached seven years after an offseason of bold moves, along with the addition of two talented teenagers, and the quest begins Thursday against the visiting Boston Bruins. The Sabres added goaltender Carter Hutton along with forwards Jeff Skinner, Patrik Berglund and Conor Sheary - among others - while 2018 first overall pick Rasmus Dahlin makes his debut and 2017 No. 8 selection Casey Mittelstadt starts his first full season.
Still, the leader of Buffalo's potential revival is center Jack Eichel, who has accumulated 177 points (73 goals) in 209 games over his first three seasons and was officially named captain on Wednesday. “It’s an incredible honor,” Eichel told reporters. “And I don’t think I would have been given this opportunity if it wasn’t for the other leaders in this room that have pushed me to be better and taught me a lot about myself. It’s an unbelievable feeling and I’m just excited about the season.” The Bruins will come to Buffalo angry after being blitzed by defending Stanley Cup-champion Washington 7-0 on Wednesday, allowing four power-play goals in the first 35 minutes, 45 seconds of the contest. Boston leans on its impressive top line of David Pastrnak, Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand, but all three posted a minus-2 rating and combined for seven shots in the season-opening defeat.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, NESN (Boston), MSG Buffalo
ABOUT THE BRUINS (0-1-0): Tuukka Rask endured a season debut to forget as he surrendered five goals on 19 shots before being pulled while backup Jaroslav Halak stopped 16 of the 18 shots he faced. Coach Bruce Cassidy told reporters the “lack of competitive spirit” was a concern during the opener while second-line center David Krejci and talented young defenseman Charlie McAvoy were held without a shot as Boston registered 25 while allowing 37. Offseason free-agent acquisition John Moore led the Bruins with four shots and fellow blue-liner Kevan Miller recorded a team-high six hits against Washington, but the defense corps will have to be better.
ABOUT THE SABRES (2017-18: 25-45-12, 8TH IN ATLANTIC): Eichel is expected to center Skinner and Sam Reinhart on the top line and Berglund will skate with Sheary and newcomer Tage Thompson while Mittelstadt teams with Vladimir Sobotka and Kyle Okposo. Rasmus Ristolainen and Marco Scandella form the top pair on defense, but all eyes will be on Dahlin after he impressed in the preseason with three points in four games, as he teams up Jake McCabe. “It’s going to take some time to learn all the players,” the Swedish Dahlin told the Buffalo News. “(On Thursday), I just want to go out there, play my game and do the best I can. I’m focused on the team, on what we can do.”
OVERTIME
1. Boston Fs Chris Wagner (three hits) and Joakim Nordstrom (three shots) each made their debuts for the team on Wednesday.
2. Buffalo claimed F Remi Elie, who recorded 14 points and a plus-5 rating in 72 games with Dallas last season, off waivers on Tuesday.
3. The Sabres won three of the four meetings last season after the Bruins swept the four-game series in 2016-17.