Sabres vs. Red Wings | How to watch, lineup notes, and storylines

Storylines

1. Fourth-line feats

Throughout this six-game skid, a productive fourth line has been a welcomed growth for the Sabres.

During the last two video games, with rookie call-up Tyson Kozak centering Beck Malenstyn and Nicolas Aube-Kubel, the road has performed with physicality, gained puck battles and turned protection into offense.

In 18:10 with these three on the ice at 5-on-5, Buffalo has led 8-4 in scoring possibilities and 6-0 in high-danger possibilities, per Pure Stat Trick.

Kozak, 21, has impressed each linemates together with his efficiency by way of two video games.

“Kozy has actually put collectively two nice hockey video games – enjoying with plenty of confidence, enjoying actually easy,” Malenstyn mentioned. “It’s been plenty of enjoyable to play with him. He’s actually exhibiting he belongs. Simply enjoying north and south, making easy, proper performs on a regular basis. Laborious on the forecheck, good within the D-zone. Nothing however nice issues. Actually pleased for him.”

“Being referred to as up, generally you don’t wish to make a mistake,” Aube-Kubel added, “however he’s been fairly calm and actually poised with the puck.”

The wingers had already established chemistry collectively as linemates in Washington final season, and in Buffalo to start this one. In following their easy type of play, Kozak has slot in seamlessly.

Malenstyn recorded a main help on Kozak’s first NHL purpose Saturday versus Utah and dealt a game-high-tying seven hits. A kind of hits, on Michael Kesselring in opposition to the tip boards, initiated a second-period combat between the 2.

“It was a time the place I wasn’t involved with having to reply the bell for it,” Malenstyn mentioned. “We have been down two on the time and simply wished to show the tides with some power.”

Buffalo in the end did not flip the script in Saturday’s defeat. Underneath Ruff’s management, Malenstyn feels the Sabres are analyzing however not dwelling on the errors which have snowballed into this winless stretch.

“I believe [Ruff] does a terrific job of that – we handle the problems, we take a look at the options and it permits the fellows to have the ability to flip the web page,” Malenstyn mentioned. “We are able to’t are available in right here and be sulking. It’s that next-day, next-page mentality. Go to work and proper these wrongs.”

If Malenstyn, Kozak and Aube-Kubel can preserve their excessive degree of play, the Sabres will boast glorious ahead depth when the highest three strains inevitably discover their footing as soon as once more.

2. Second-period struggles

The Sabres have began video games robust of late, outscoring their opponents 8-2 of their final six first intervals.

That mentioned, outscored 8-0 within the center 20 minutes throughout that span, Buffalo has been unable to hold its early momentum by way of the primary intermission. The difficulty extends past the final six video games; on the season, the Sabres have been outscored 35-23 within the second interval.

Postgame Saturday, requested about Utah’s three-goal second interval and Buffalo’s broader struggles within the center body, Ruff cited an total lack of execution – ill-advised passes and turnovers, in addition to a failure to get the puck deep within the opposing finish.

These errors haven’t at all times led to targets, however by extending skaters’ shifts within the interval of the lengthy change, they’ve made the Sabres particularly inclined to defensive lapses and unfavorable outcomes.

3. Scouting the Purple Wings

Losses are losses, however throughout Detroit’s five-game winless streak, every recreation has been determined by one purpose. Now 10-13-4, the Purple Wings sit one level behind the Sabres (11-13-3) within the Atlantic Division standings.

Monday marks the third of 4 conferences between the Sabres and Purple Wings this season. Buffalo gained the primary matchup 5-3 at dwelling on Oct. 26, whereas Detroit took the rematch 2-1 – with two power-play targets – at Little Caesar’s Enviornment on Nov. 2. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen began each video games in internet for the Sabres.

Within the two video games mixed, Buffalo has carried play with a 57-percent share of shot makes an attempt, 59-percent share of pictures on purpose and 56-percent share of scoring possibilities at 5-on-5.

Ahead Lucas Raymond leads Detroit in each assists (18) and factors (27). Captain Dylan Larkin has 20 factors, together with a team-leading 12 targets.

With goalies Cam Talbot and Alex Lyon nursing lower-body accidents and unavailable for Monday’s recreation, both Ville Husso or Sebastian Cossa will begin in internet. Husso has an .884 save proportion in six video games. Cossa, the Fifteenth-overall decide in 2021, awaits his NHL debut after being recalled Dec. 2.