Preview: Blues at Sabres
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[February 18, 2017]
The Buffalo Sabres have a chance
to match their longest winning streak of the season but they face a
daunting challenge when they host the red-hot St. Louis Blues on
Saturday afternoon. The Sabres are three points behind Toronto for
the second wild card in the Eastern Conference as they go for their
third straight victory.
Buffalo has won three in a row on only two occasions this season and
forward Evander Kane knows that has to change to make a run at a
playoff spot. "We need to go
back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back," Kane said. "That's
where we're at right now." St. Louis is at that point right now,
riding a six-game winning streak to take control of third place in
the Central Divison. The Blues also have had their way against the
Sabres, winning nine straight in the series and yielding a combined
two goals in their last four visits to Buffalo.
TV: 1 p.m. ET, FSN Midwest (St. Louis), MSG-B (Buffalo)
ABOUT THE BLUES (31-22-5): After completing a perfect five-game road
trip for the first time in franchise history, St. Louis kept its
winning streak alive by beating Vancouver 4-3 with third-period
goals by Vladimir Tarasenko and Alexander Steen. In the eight games
since Mike Yeo took over for Ken Hitchcock, Steen has three goals
and four assists and is a plus-4. "I think it's helped the whole
group," Steen said of the coaching change. "I think it's been a
collective approach to a sounder game."
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ABOUT THE SABRES (25-23-10): Kane, who scored for the seventh time
in 10 games and is one shy of his third career 20-goal season, sat
out practice Friday due to illness but is expected to play against
the Blues. Defenseman Cody Franson, sidelined for the past four
games with a foot injury, practiced Friday and said he is ready to
return to the lineup. However, center Derek Grant will sit out after
sustaining a shoulder injury Thursday and will be replace by Nicolas
Deslauriers.
OVERTIME
1. St. Louis has killed off all 21 penalties in eight games this
month.
2. Buffalo is 6-3-1 against the Central Division entering a
back-to-back versus the Blues and Chicago prior to its bye week.
3. Yeo's 7-1-0 record is the best start by any Blues coach in club
history.
PREDICTION: Blues 3, Sabres 2
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