Tag Archives: Carolina Hurricanes

Post-Game Report: 11/14 vs. Carolina

Final Score

1st 2nd 3rd OT SO Final SOG
Hurricanes
(11-7-1)
2 1 1 1 5 29
Sabres
(9-6-3)
1 1 2 0 4 33

Game Summary

Event Summary

 

Top Notes

  • With tonight’s goal, Jeff Skinner has scored in each of his four career games against his former club, totaling five goals and one assist in those contests.
  • Skinner’s plus-4 rating tonight tied a career high (previously: 3/30/11 vs. MTL and 10/20/18 at LAK).
  • Curtis Lazar, who made his Sabres debut tonight, scored on his first shot as a Sabre in the second period.
  • Lazar became the 56th player ever to score in his Sabres debut and the first since Kyle Okposo did so on Oct. 16, 2016 at Edmonton.
    • Jack Eichel and Zemgus Girgensons are the only other current Sabres who have scored in their debuts.
  • Evan Rodrigues, who assisted on Skinner’s goal, now has three points (1+2) and a plus-3 rating in four games against the Hurricanes since the beginning of last season.
  • Rasmus Dahlin appeared in his 100th NHL game tonight. His 56 career points (10+46) trail only Phil Housley (30+64) for the most by a Sabres defenseman through his first 100 games.

 

Tonight’s Goaltenders

Tonight’s Stats
Team Goaltender Decision GA SA
Hurricanes
Mrazek W 4 33
Sabres Hutton OTL 5 29
Updated Season Stats
Team Goaltender Record SV% GAA
Hurricanes Mrazek 9-3-1 .904 2.62
Sabres Hutton 6-3-2 .913 2.62

 

Post-Game Audio

Sabres head coach Ralph Krueger

Sabres forward Curtis Lazar

Sabres forward Jeff Skinner

Sabres defenseman Henri Jokiharju

Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind’Amour

Hurricanes forward Andrei Svechnikov

Hurricanes forward Teuvo Teravainen

Hurricanes defenseman Dougie Hamilton

Game Preview: 11/14/19 vs. Carolina

GAME-DAY RESOURCES

Game Notes NHL Stats Press Clips

LAST GAME
Saturday, November 9
Buffalo 3 at Tampa Bay 5
Goals: Reinhart, Olofsson, Eichel
Goalie: Hutton (35 saves/40 shots)
PP: 0/2; PK: 1/3; Shots: Buffalo 43 – Tampa Bay 40

CURRENT INJURIES – (Man Games Lost: 71)
Player (injury, first game missed) – total games missed
Zach Bogosian (hip, Oct. 3; injured reserve) – 17 games
Matt Hunwick (neck, Oct. 3; injured reserve) – 17 games
Vladimir Sobotka (lower body, Nov. 9; injured reserve) – 1 game

TRANSACTIONS IN PAST 7 DAYS
11/11: Assigned D Lawrence Pilut to Rochester (AHL)
11/13: Recalled F Curtis Lazar from Rochester (AHL)
11/14: Activated D Marco Scandella from IR; Placed F Vladimir Sobotka on IR

UPCOMING GAMES
Saturday, Nov. 16: Ottawa at Buffalo, 7 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 17: Buffalo at Chicago, 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 19: Minnesota at Buffalo, 7 p.m.
Thursday, Nov. 21: Buffalo at Boston, 7 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 24: Buffalo at Florida, 5 p.m.

TONIGHT’S GAME
HURRICANES at SABRES

  • This is the first of three meetings between the Sabres and Hurricanes this season.
  • Last meeting: Carolina defeated Buffalo 4-2 in Raleigh on March 16
  • Next meeting: Sunday, March 15 in Buffalo
  • The Sabres are 1-6-3 in their last 10 games vs. the Hurricanes; 4-4-2 at home.
  • This is the 205th game all-time between Buffalo and Carolina; Buffalo has a 102-75-27 series record.
  • The Sabres are 58-33-10 at home against the Hurricanes all-time.

THIS DATE IN SABRES HISTORY

  • The Sabres are 7-3-7 all-time on November 14.
  • November 14, 2009: Tyler Ennis scores in his NHL debut and the Sabres top the Flyers 3-2 in Philadelphia.

THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW

  • Sam Reinhart has eight points (5+3) in his last eight games and enters tonight with multi-point efforts in each of his last two outings (3+1). He has recorded three straight multi-point games just once in his career: Dec. 15 to 18, 2018 (0+7).
  • Reinhart recorded at least a point in all three meetings with Carolina last season (0+4).
  • Jack Eichel has totaled 10 points (6+4) in 12 career games against the Hurricanes, including seven (3+4) in his last five and eight (6+2) in six home games.
  • Jimmy Vesey has recorded nine points (5+4) in eight games against Carolina since the beginning of the 2017-18 season.
  • Jeff Skinner has scored at least one goal in each of his three career games against his former club (4+0).
  • Colin Miller has totaled four points (1+3) in his last four games against Carolina.
  • Marco Scandella had a point in both of his meetings with the Hurricanes last season (1+1).

CENTURY MARK

  • Rasmus Dahlin is expected to appear in his 100th NHL game tonight.
  • Dahlin, who leads all Sabres defensemen with 12 points and is tied for the team lead with 11 assists this season, enters the game with 56 career points (10+46) through his first 99 NHL games.
  • Among defensemen throughout franchise history to debut with the Sabres, only Phil Housley (30+64) matched or surpassed Dahlin’s minimum of 56 points through the first 100 regular-season games of his career.

WELCOME TO BUFFALO

  • Curtis Lazar is expected to make his regular-season Sabres debut tonight. He would become the sixth player (of Buffalo’s 22 skaters to dress this season) to make his Sabres debut in 2019-20.
  • Prior to his recall on Wednesday, Lazar had recorded nine points (4+5) in his last nine games with the Rochester Americans (AHL), including a career-best five points (2+3) on Oct. 26 at Syracuse and goals in each of the team’s last two games.
  • Selected by the Ottawa Senators in the first round (17th overall) of the 2013 NHL Draft, Lazar posted AHL career highs in goals (20), assists (21) and points (41) in 57 games with the Stockton Heat in 2018-19, earning a spot at the 2019 AHL All-Star Classic.

SABRES AMONG LEAGUE-LEADERS (Sabres’ league rankings before 11/13 games)

  • Buffalo Sabres: 25.0% PP% (5th)
  • Dahlin: 7 PPA (T-10th)
  • Eichel: 1 OTG (T-6th), 4 PPG (T-8th), 9 PPP (T-9th)
  • Hutton: 2 SO (T-1st), 2.39 GAA (9th)
  • Johansson: 1 OTG (T-6th)
  • Olofsson: 6 PPG (4th)
  • Ristolainen: 57 hits (T-9th)
  • Ullmark: 1 SO (T-6th)

BUF-CAR CONNECTIONS

  • Sabres forward Jeff Skinner played for the Hurricanes from 2010 to 2018 after being selected by Carolina with the seventh overall pick in the 2010 NHL Draft. Skinner totaled 379 points (204+175) in 579 games with the Hurricanes and still ranks in the top 10 in franchise history in goals (5th), points (7th) and games played (9th).
  • Sabres forward Jack Eichel and Hurricanes defenseman Jaccob Slavin played together for Team USA at the 2014 IIHF World Junior Championship.
  • Sabres forward Jack Eichel and Hurricanes defenseman Trevor van Riemsdyk both played for the United States at the 2017 IIHF World Championship.
  • Sabres goaltender Carter Hutton played in St. Louis with Hurricanes defenseman Joel Edmundson from 2016 to 2018.
  • Sabres forward Marcus Johansson and Hurricanes forward Brian Gibbons played together in New Jersey during the 2017-18 season.
  • Sabres defenseman Henri Jokiharju and Hurricanes forward Eetu Luostarinen won a gold medal together for Team Finland at the 2019 IIHF World Championship.
  • Sabres forward Curtis Lazar played with Hurricanes forward Ryan Dzingel in Ottawa from 2015 to 2017.
  • Sabres defenseman Jake McCabe and Hurricanes defenseman Jake Gardiner played for the United States at the 2014 IIHF World Championship.
  • Sabres defenseman Colin Miller and Hurricanes forward Erik Haula were both members of the Golden Knights’ inaugural team. The two played together in Vegas for two seasons, from 2017 to 2019.
  • Sabres defenseman Brandon Montour was a teammate of Hurricanes forward Brian Gibbons in Anaheim for part of the 2018-19 season.
  • Sabres forward Kyle Okposo and Hurricanes forward Nino Niederreiter both previously played for the New York Islanders. They were teammates from 2010 to 2012.
  • Sabres forward Victor Olofsson and Hurricanes forward Lucas Wallmark played for Team Sweden together at the 2015 IIHF World Junior Championship.
  • Sabres defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen and Hurricanes forwards Sebastian Aho, Erik Haula, and Teuvo Teravainen all played for Team Finland at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey. Ristolainen and Teravainen also played together at the 2013 and 2014 IIHF World Junior Championships, winning a gold medal in 2014.
  • Sabres forward Jeff Skinner and Hurricanes goaltender James Reimer were teammates at the 2011 IIHF World Championship, where both played for Team Canada.
  • Sabres forward Jeff Skinner and Hurricanes forward Jordan Staal both played for Team Canada at the 2013 IIHF World Championship.
  • Sabres forward Jimmy Vesey and Hurricanes defenseman Jake Gardiner played together at the 2015 IIHF World Championship, winning a bronze medal for Team USA.

SABRES REAL-TIME STATS LEADERS
Hits: Ristolainen (57), Miller (31), McCabe (30)
Blocked Shots: McCabe (38), Ristolainen (26), Jokiharju (17)
Shots: Skinner (62), Eichel (56), Reinhart (39)

SABRES’ RECORD IN 10 GAME SEGMENTS [W-L-OTL (PTS), GF/GA, PP, PK] 1-10: 8-1-1 (17), 38/24, 12/39, 23/30
11-20: 1-5-1 (3), 12/24, 2/17, 14/18

OVERTIME RESULTS (2-1; 122-129 all-time)
Oct. 7 at CBJ: L, 4-3 (GWG-Texier, 2:08)
Oct. 9 vs. MTL: W, 5-4 (GWG-Johansson, 1:30)
Oct. 22 vs. SJS: W, 4-3 (GWG-Eichel, 3:13)

SHOOTOUT RESULTS (1-1; 76-70 all-time)
Oct. 11 vs. FLA: W, 3-2 (GDG-Eichel)
Oct. 28 vs. ARI: L, 3-2 (GDG-Schmaltz)

MILESTONES APPROACHING (Player … Needs … Milestone)
Games Played
Rasmus Dahlin … 1 game … 100 career games played
Carter Hutton … 2 games … 200 career games played
Brandon Montour … 8 games … 200 career games played
Jake McCabe … 9 games … 300 career games played
Goals
Sam Reinhart … 6 goals … 100 career goals
Points
Jimmy Vesey … 8 points … 100 career points
Kyle Okposo … 8 points … 500 career points

RECENT MILESTONES
Rasmus Ristolainen … 200th NHL point … Nov. 8 vs. TBL
Casey Mittelstadt … 100th NHL game … Nov. 9 at TBL

Game Preview: 3/16/19 at Carolina

GAME-DAY RESOURCES

Game Notes NHL Stats Press Clips

LAST GAME
Thursday, March 14
Pittsburgh 5 at Buffalo 0
Goals: N/A
Goalie: Hutton (23 saves/28 shots)
PP: 0/2; PK: 1/4; Shots: Pittsburgh 28 – Buffalo 26

CURRENT INJURIES – (Man Games Lost: 210)
Player (injury, first game missed) – total games missed
Jake McCabe (upper body, March 4) – 5 games
Zach Bogosian (upper body, March 14) – 1 game

TRANSACTIONS IN PAST 7 DAYS
3/10: Recalled F Alexander Nylander from Rochester (AHL)

UPCOMING GAMES
Sunday, March 17: St. Louis at Buffalo, 5 p.m.
Wednesday, March 20: Toronto at Buffalo, 7 p.m.
Saturday, March 23: Montreal at Buffalo, 7 p.m.
Monday, March 25: New Jersey at Buffalo, 7 p.m.
Tuesday, March 26: Buffalo at Ottawa, 7:30 p.m.

TONIGHT’S GAME
SABRES at HURRICANES

  • This is the final of three meetings between the Sabres and Hurricanes this season.
  • Last meeting: Carolina defeated Buffalo 6-5 (OT) in Buffalo on Feb. 7
  • The Sabres are 2-5-3 in their last 10 games vs. the Hurricanes; 2-7-1 on the road.
  • This is the 204th game all-time between Buffalo and Carolina; Buffalo has a 102-74-27 series record.
  • The Sabres are 44-41-17 on the road against the Hurricanes all-time.

THIS DATE IN SABRES HISTORY

  • The Sabres are 10-7-7 all-time on March 16.
  • March 16, 1975: Gilbert Perreault scores three goals and assists on three more as the Sabres defeat the Toronto Maple Leafs 11-3 on the road.
  • March 16, 1989: The Sabres get a goal from six different scorers (Andreychuk, Arniel, Foligno, Hogue, Krupp, Turgeon) in a 6-1 win at Hartford.

THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW

  • The Sabres are seeking their first win against the Hurricanes since March 22, 2016.
  • Jack Eichel has totaled 10 points (6+4) in 11 career games against the Hurricanes, including seven (3+4) in his last four.
  • Sam Reinhart has recorded three assists in two games against Carolina this season.
  • Jeff Skinner (3+0) and Jason Pominville (2+0) have both scored in each of this season’s previous matchups with the Hurricanes.
  • Evan Rodrigues and Marco Scandella have each tallied a point in both games (1+1) against Carolina this season.
  • Rasmus Dahlin recorded two assists in his first career visit to Carolina on Jan. 11.

BACK-TO-BACK
Tonight’s game opens up Buffalo’s 14th of 16 sets of back-to-back games this season, which continues tomorrow night vs. St. Louis. The Sabres are 7-5-1 in the first game of back-to-back sets and 5-6-2 in the second game so far this season. Buffalo’s point breakdown in their previous back-to-back sets is: four points (3), three points (1), two points (5), one point (2) and zero points (2).

DYNAMIC DUO
Jack Eichel and Jeff Skinner have both recorded a point on the same goal 31 times this season, making them the most productive Sabres duo since Jason Pominville and Thomas Vanek combined on 39 goals in the 2011-12 season. At least one of the two has recorded a point on 99 of the team’s 190 goals this season (52.1%).

DAH-LEAN ON ME

  • Entering play Friday, Rasmus Dahlin led rookie defensemen and ranked third among all NHL rookies in points (37). His 29 assists ranked second among all rookies.
  • With 37 points (8+29) through 70 games, Dahlin is scoring at a higher rate than he did in the Swedish Hockey League last season, when he totaled 20 points (7+13) in 41 games for Frölunda.
  • Dahlin trails only Phil Housley (57 points in 1982-83) and Bobby Orr (38 points in 1966-67) for the most points ever recorded by an NHL defenseman before his 19th birthday.
  • With seven multi-point games so far this season, Dahlin has recorded more multi-point games as an 18-year-old than all but two defensemen in NHL history: Housley (13) and Orr (8).
  • Dahlin’s three game-winning goals this season are already the most ever recorded by a Sabres rookie defenseman. His total also ties for ninth-most by any Sabres rookie and eighth-most in a season by any defenseman in franchise history.

JACK ATTACK

  • Jack Eichel has totaled 72 points this season, setting a new career-high mark, also tying his previous high with 25 goals. He has joined Rick Martin and Thomas Vanek as the third player in franchise history to record at least 20 goals in each of his first four NHL seasons.
  • With 47 assists so far this season, Eichel is the first Sabres player to record at least 45 assists in a season since Tim Connolly recorded 48 in 2009-10. The last Sabre to record at least 50 assists was Jason Pominville (53) in 2007-08.

SKINNER, SKINNER, CHICKEN DINNER

  • Jeff Skinner has scored 36 goals this season, becoming the fifth player ever to score at least 35 in his first season with the Sabres.
  • His next goal will match his previous career high of 37 set in the 2016-17 season and his 38th goal would tie Gilbert Perreault (1970-71) and Ray Sheppard (1987-88) for third-most ever scored by a first-year Sabre.
  • Skinner’s 28 even-strength goals are already the most ever recorded by player in his first year with the Sabres, breaking a record previously held by Danny Gare (26) since 1974-75.
  • Skinner is on pace to become the first Sabres player to score at least 40 goals since Thomas Vanek (40) in 2008-09 and would have the highest total since Thomas Vanek scored 43 in 2006-07. He would become just the 11th different player in Sabres history to score at least 40 in a season.

RISING IN THE RECORD BOOKS

  • With his goal on March 2 at Toronto, Jason Pominville tied Don Luce for 10th-most regular-season goals in Sabres history (216). He now trails Rene Robert by six goals for ninth-most all-time.
  • Pominville needs nine points to tie Luce for seventh-most in franchise history (526) and nine assists to tie him for seventh-most in that category (310).

LEADING THE WAY
Each of the Sabres’ top three scorers is currently on pace to shatter his previous personal best in points on the strength of career-best production at even strength:

Player/Season GP G A PTS ES G ES A ES P
Eichel Career High (2017-18) 67 25 39 64 22 20 42
Eichel 2018-19 65 25 47 72 17 34 51
Eichel 2018-19 (Pace) 77 30 56 85 20 40 60
               
Reinhart Career High (2017-18) 82 25 25 50 13 16 29
Reinhart 2018-19 70 18 40 58 16 28 44
Reinhart 2018-19 (Pace) 82 21 47 68 19 33 52
               
Skinner Career High (2016-17) 79 37 26 63 30 18 48
Skinner 2018-19 70 36 22 58 28 14 42
Skinner 2018-19 (Pace) 82 42 26 68 33 16 49

SCORING WHEN IT COUNTS

  • Jeff Skinner’s seven game-winning goals tied for fifth-most in the NHL this season entering play Friday. He is the first Sabres player with at least seven game-winners in a season since Derek Roy (9) in 2008-09 and is four shy of matching the single-season franchise record of 11 shared by Danny Gare (1979-80) and Alexander Mogilny (1992-93).
  • Skinner was also tied for third in the league with three overtime goals this season. Skinner’s total matches the Sabres’ single-season record shared by Daniel Briere (2006-07) and Derek Roy (2009-10) and ties him for 10th-most career overtime goals in franchise history.

SABRES AMONG LEAGUE-LEADERS (Sabres’ league rankings before 3/15 games)

  • Buffalo Sabres: 81.2% PK% (9th)
  • Eichel: 259 S (T-7th)
  • Ristolainen: 24:53 TOI/GP (9th)
  • Skinner: 3 OTG (T-3rd), 28 EVG (5th), 7 GWG (T-5th), 36 G (T-9th)

BUF-CAR CONNECTIONS
Former Hurricanes:

  • Sabres F Jeff Skinner spent eight seasons playing for the Hurricanes after being selected by the team in the first round (7th overall) of the 2010 NHL Draft. He played in 579 games for the club, scoring 204 goals and adding 175 assists. He still ranks in the top 10 in franchise history in games played (9th), goals (5th) and points (7th).
  • Sabres assistant coach Steve Smith was on the Hurricanes’ coaching staff for four seasons (2014 to 2018).

Former Sabres:

  • Hurricanes vice president of hockey operations Rick Dudley played and coached for the Sabres. He spent parts of three seasons (1972 to 1975) on the Sabres’ roster, skating in 279 games and scoring 164 points (70+94). He returned to the organization as the team’s head coach for three seasons (1989 to 1992).

Nathan Beaulieu:

  • Won a bronze medal for Team Canada with Hurricanes D Dougie Hamilton at the 2012 IIHF World Junior Championship.

Zach Bogosian:

  • Played for the Thrashers when Hurricanes General Manager Don Waddell was the general manager in Atlanta.

Jason Botterill:

  • Played for the Thrashers when Hurricanes General Manager Don Waddell was the general manager in Atlanta. The two later worked together in Pittsburgh when Botterill was the Penguins’ assistant general manager and Waddell served as a scout for the team.
  • Was the assistant general manager in Pittsburgh when Hurricanes F Jordan Staal was playing for the Penguins.

Jack Eichel:

  • Played for Team USA with Hurricanes D Jaccob Slavin at the 2014 IIHF World Junior Championship.

Matt Hunwick:

  • Played with Hurricanes F Greg McKegg in Pittsburgh.
  • Won a bronze medal for Team USA with Hurricanes D Justin Faulk at the 2013 IIHF World Championship.

Johan Larsson:

  • Shares a birthday with Hurricanes F Jordan Martinook (July 25, 1992).
  • Played with Hurricanes F Nino Niederreiter in Minnesota.

Kyle Okposo:

  • Played for the Islanders with Hurricanes D Calvin de Haan and F Nino Niederreiter. Hurricanes assistant coach Dean Chynoweth was also on the Islanders’ coaching staff during Okposo’s tenure with the team.
  • Played for Team USA with Hurricanes D Justin Faulk at the 2012 IIHF World Championship.

Davis Payne:

  • Played with Hurricanes assistant coach Dean Chynoweth in Boston.
  • Was an assistant coach in Los Angeles when Hurricanes F Justin Williams was playing for the Kings.

Jason Pominville:

  • Played with Hurricanes F Nino Niederreiter in Minnesota.

Rasmus Ristolainen:

  • Has played for Team Finland with Hurricanes F Teuvo Teravainen three times: at the 2013 and 2014 IIHF World Junior Championships and at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey. The duo won a gold medal together in 2014.
  • Won a gold medal with Hurricanes F Saku Maenalanen at the 2014 IIHF World Junior Championship.
  • Represented Finland with Hurricanes F Sebastian Aho at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.

Marco Scandella:

  • Played with Hurricanes F Nino Niederreiter in Minnesota.
  • Won a silver medal for Team Canada with Hurricanes D Calvin de Haan at the 2011 IIHF World Junior Championship.

Conor Sheary:

  • Played with Hurricanes F Greg McKegg in Pittsburgh. Hurricanes goaltending coach Mike Bales was also on the Penguins’ coaching staff during Sheary’s tenure with the team.

Jeff Skinner:

  • Represented Canada with Hurricanes F Jordan Staal at the 2013 IIHF World Championship.
  • Won a silver medal for Team Canada with Hurricanes D Calvin de Haan at the 2017 IIHF World Championship.

Vladimir Sobotka:

  • Played for the Czech Republic National Team with Hurricanes G Petr Mrazek at both the 2016 World Cup of Hockey and at the 2017 IIHF World Championship.

Scott Wilson:

  • Played with Hurricanes G Petr Mrazek in Detroit.
  • Played in Pittsburgh when Hurricanes goaltending coach Mike Bales was on the Penguins’ coaching staff.

SABRES REAL-TIME STATS LEADERS
Hits: Ristolainen (213), Girgensons (116), McCabe (96)
Blocked Shots: Ristolainen (114), Bogosian (108), McCabe (95)
Shots: Eichel (259), Skinner (226), Ristolainen (170)

SABRES’ RECORD IN 10 GAME SEGMENTS [W-L-OTL (PTS), GF/GA, PP, PK] 1-10: 6-4-0 (12), 26/28, 8/38, 22/30
11-20: 6-2-2 (14), 35/27, 4/28, 26/29
21-30: 5-3-2 (12), 31/32, 5/28, 23/29
31-40: 4-4-2 (10), 24/27, 7/31, 27/29
41-50: 4-6-0 (8), 30/34, 1/25, 14/20
51-60: 3-6-1 (7), 26/38, 7/30, 19/22
61-70: 2-8-0 (4), 23/39, 6/27, 18/26

OVERTIME RESULTS (7-6; 120-127 all-time)
Oct. 27 at CBJ: L, 5-4 (GWG-Panarin, 0:31)
Oct. 30 vs. CGY: L, 2-1 (GWG-Gaudreau, 2:40)
Nov. 8 at MTL: W, 6-5 (GWG-Ristolainen, 1:38)
Nov. 19 at PIT: W, 5-4 (GWG-Eichel, 0:45)
Nov. 23 vs. MTL: W, 3-2 (GWG-Skinner, 3:06)
Nov. 27 vs. SJS: W, 3-2 (GWG-Skinner, 1:41)
Nov. 30 at FLA: L, 3-2 (GWG-Barkov, 2:26)
Dec. 4 vs. TOR: L, 4-3 (GWG-Matthews, 4:57)
Dec. 11 vs. LAK: W, 4-3 (GWG-Skinner, 1:49)
Dec. 29 vs. BOS: L, 3-2 (GWG-Kuraly, 3:44)
Jan. 16 at CGY: W, 4-3 (GWG-Eichel, 1:10)
Feb. 8 vs. CAR: L, 6-5 (GWG-Teravainen, 3:25)
March 1 vs. PIT: W, 4-3 (GWG-Sheary, 4:11)

SHOOTOUT RESULTS (5-2; 75-68 all-time)
Nov. 10 vs. VAN: W, 4-3 (GDG-Mittelstadt)
Nov. 16 at WPG: W, 2-1 (GDG-Sheary)
Nov. 24 at DET: W, 3-2 (GDG-Reinhart)
Dec. 15 at WSH: L, 4-3 (GDG-Ovechkin)
Feb. 5 vs. MIN: W, 5-4 (GDG-Reinhart)
Feb. 21 at TBL: L, 2-1 (GDG-Stamkos)
March 7 at CHI: L, 5-4 (GDG-Kane)

MILESTONES APPROACHING (Player … Needs … Milestone)
Goals
Jason Pominville … 1 goal … 217 goals with Sabres (sole possession, 10th in franchise history)
Jack Eichel … 2 goals … 100 career goals
Jason Pominville … 8 goals … 300 career goals
Assists
Kyle Okposo … 1 assist … 300 career assists
Jeff Skinner … 3 assists … 200 career assists
Matt Hunwick … 7 assists … 100 career assists
Jason Pominville … 8 assists … 310 assists with Sabres (T-7th in franchise history)
Points
Sam Reinhart … 2 points … 200 career points
Rasmus Ristolainen … 10 points … 200 career points 

RECENT MILESTONES
Tage Thompson … 100th NHL game … March 12 vs. DAL

Post-Game Report: 2/7 vs. Carolina

Final Score

1st 2nd 3rd OT SO Final SOG
Hurricanes
(27-21-6)
1 1 3 1 6 30
Sabres
(26-20-7)
0 2 3 0 5 39

Game Summary

Event Summary

 

Top Notes

  • Jason Pominville’s goal tonight moved him into sole possession of eighth-most points in franchise history with 512 points (213+299), passing Mike Foligno.
  • With tonight’s goal, his eighth of the season, Evan Rodrigues has established a new career high in goals. Rodrigues now has seven points (6+1) in his last eight games.
  • Jeff Skinner scored twice tonight and now has three goals in two games against his former team. His 33 goals through 53 games this season tie as the second-best total of his career and rank him second in the NHL in 2018-19.
  • Jack Eichel’s assist on Skinner’s second goal was his 40th of the season, a new career high. He’s the first Sabres player to record 40 assists in a season since Pominville totaled 43 in the 2011-12 season.
  • Rasmus Ristolainen recorded two assists tonight, giving him eight assists in his last eight contests.
  • Casey Mittelstadt’s assist tonight gives him assists in three straight games and six points (1+5) in his last eight games.
  • With his assist tonight, Conor Sheary has recorded an assist in five of his last six home games.

 

Tonight’s Goaltenders

Tonight’s Stats
Team Goaltender Decision SV% GAA
Hurricanes McElhinney W .872 4.73
Sabres Ullmark O .800 5.75

 

Updated Season Stats
Team Goaltender Record SV% GAA
Hurricanes McElhinney 13-6-1 .915 2.50
Sabres Ullmark 11-5-4 .909 3.06

 

Post-Game Audio

Sabres head coach Phil Housley

Sabres forward Jack Eichel

Sabres forward Jeff Skinner

Sabres forward Evan Rodrigues

Sabres forward Sam Reinhart

Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind’Amour

Hurricanes forward Sebastian Aho

Hurricanes forward Teuvo Teravainen

Hurricanes goaltender Curtis McElhinney

Game Preview: 2/7/19 vs. Carolina

GAME-DAY RESOURCES

Game Notes NHL Stats Press Clips

LAST GAME
Tuesday, February 5
Minnesota 4 at Buffalo 5 (SO)
Goals: Rodrigues, Smith, Dahlin, Reinhart; GDG-Reinhart
Goalie: Ullmark (41 saves/45 shots)
PP: 2/2; PK: 3/3; Shots: Minnesota 45 – Buffalo 39

CURRENT INJURIES – (Man Games Lost: 179)
Player (injury, first game missed) – total games missed
Casey Nelson (upper body, Dec. 8; injured reserve) – 23 games
Johan Larsson (upper body, Feb. 1) – 2 games

TRANSACTIONS IN PAST 7 DAYS
2/2: Placed F Remi Elie on waivers
2/3: Assigned F Remi Elie to Rochester (AHL)
2/4: Recalled F C.J. Smith from Rochester (AHL)

UPCOMING GAMES
Saturday, Feb. 9: Detroit at Buffalo, 1 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 10: Winnipeg at Buffalo, 3 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 12: NY Islanders at Buffalo, 7 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 15: NY Rangers at Buffalo, 7 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 17: Buffalo at New Jersey, 6 p.m.

TONIGHT’S GAME
HURRICANES at SABRES

  • This is the second of three meetings between the Sabres and Hurricanes this season.
  • Next meeting: Saturday, March 16 at Carolina
  • Last meeting: Carolina defeated Buffalo 4-3 at Carolina on Jan. 11
  • The Sabres are 3-5-2 in their last 10 games vs. the Hurricanes; 5-4-1 at home.
  • This is the 203rd game all-time between Buffalo and Carolina; Buffalo has a 102-74-26 series record.
  • The Sabres are 58-33-9 at home against the Hurricanes all-time.

THIS DATE IN SABRES HISTORY

  • The Sabres are 12-7-1 all-time on February 7.
  • February 7, 1980: Danny Gare scores his eighth career hat trick and Don Edwards stops 25 shots to earn his 11th career shutout in a 9-0 win vs. Pittsburgh.
  • February 7, 1995: Donald Audette plays in his 200th NHL game, a 2-1 win vs. Washington.
  • February 7, 2013: Tyler Ennis records his 100th NHL point (assist) in a 5-4 shootout win vs. Montreal.

THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW

  • Tonight’s matchup is the third game of a seven-game homestand that ties the stretch from Jan. 20 to Feb. 2, 1997 as the longest in franchise history.
  • Zach Bogosian is expected to appear in his 600th NHL game tonight.
  • C.J. Smith has scored in each of his last two NHL games, marking the first and second goals of his career.
  • The Sabres are seeking their first win against the Hurricanes since March 22, 2016.
  • Jack Eichel has totaled nine points (6+3) in 10 career games against the Hurricanes, including six (3+3) in his last three.

HOME COOKING

  • Buffalo enters tonight’s game with a 15-7-3 (.660) record at home. The team’s .660 points percentage at home ranked ninth in the NHL entering play Wednesday.
  • Carter Hutton is 10-5-2 at home this season with a .922 save percentage and a 2.50 goals-against average.
  • Jeff Skinner (15+11) and Sam Reinhart (7+19) tie to lead all Sabres with 26 points in 25 home games this season. Reinhart has yet to play two consecutive home games without recording a point in 2018-19.
  • Jack Eichel is also playing above a point-per-game pace at KeyBank Center this season, totaling 24 points (10+14) in 23 home games.

DAH-LEAN ON ME

  • Entering play Wednesday, Rasmus Dahlin led rookie defensemen and ranked second among all NHL rookies with 29 points this season. His 23 assists tied for the rookie lead.
  • With 29 points (6+23) through 52 games, Dahlin is scoring at a higher rate than he did in the Swedish Hockey League last season, when he totaled 20 points (7+13) in 41 games for Frölunda.
  • Dahlin’s current point total puts him on pace for 46 points this season. It would trail only Phil Housley (57 points in 1982-83) for the most ever recorded by a defenseman before his 19th birthday.
  • With six multi-point games so far this season, Dahlin has recorded more multi-point games as an 18-year-old than all but two defensemen in NHL history: Phil Housley (13) and Bobby Orr (8).

SCORING WHEN IT COUNTS

  • Jeff Skinner’s seven game-winning goals tied for second-most in the NHL this season entering play Wednesday. He is the first Sabres player with at least seven game-winners in a season since Derek Roy (9) in 2008-09 and is four shy of matching the single-season franchise record of 11 shared by Danny Gare (1979-80) and Alexander Mogilny (1992-93).
  • Skinner was also tied for third in the league with three overtime goals this season. Skinner’s total matches the Sabres’ single-season record shared by Daniel Briere (2006-07) and Derek Roy (2009-10) and ties him for 10th-most career overtime goals in franchise history.

SAM I AM

  • Sam Reinhart has been playing above a point-per-game pace since the beginning of November, having totaled 41 points (12+29) in 40 games during that span.
  • Reinhart has already set career-high totals in assists (34) and multi-point games (14) this season. His 47 points leave him just three shy of his career high 50 from the 2017-18 season.
  • The Sabres are 20-8-4 this season when Reinhart records at least one point and 29-4-6 (.821) in his career when he records at least two.

LEADING THE WAY

  • All three of the Sabres’ top three scorers are currently on pace to shatter their personal bests in points on the strength of career-best production at even strength:
Player/Season GP G A PTS ES G ES A ES P
Eichel Career High (2017-18) 67 25 39 64 22 20 42
Eichel 2018-19 49 17 39 56 13 28 41
Eichel 2018-19 (Pace) 79 27 63 90 21 45 66
               
Skinner Career High (2016-17) 79 37 26 63 30 18 48
Skinner 2018-19 52 31 16 47 24 12 36
Skinner 2018-19 (Pace) 82 49 25 74 38 19 57
               
Reinhart Career High (2017-18) 82 25 25 50 13 16 29
Reinhart 2018-19 52 13 34 47 12 24 36
Reinhart 2018-19 (Pace) 82 21 54 74 19 38 57

MAKING HISTORY

  • At his current pace, Jack Eichel would finish the season with the fifth-most even-strength points ever recorded by a Sabre, trailing only Pat LaFontaine (83) and Alexander Mogilny (78) in 1992-93, and Gilbert Perreault in 1975-76 (70) and 1979-80 (68).
  • Eichel is on pace to become the first Sabres player to record at least 90 points since Daniel Briere (95) in 2006-07 and would also trail only LaFontaine’s franchise-record 52 even-strength assists in 1992-93.
  • Jeff Skinner is currently one goal off the pace to become the seventh 50-goal scorer in Sabres history and the first since 1992-93 (Mogilny and LaFontaine). His 38 even-strength goals would finish behind only Mogilny’s even-strength total from 1992-93 (49), Rick Martin’s 44 in 1973-74, and Danny Gare’s 41 in 1975-76 and 39 in 1979-80 for fifth-most in team history.

SABRES AMONG LEAGUE-LEADERS (Sabres’ league rankings before 2/6 games)

  • Buffalo Sabres: 82.5% PK% (7th)
  • Eichel: 2 OTG (T-6th), 200 S (9th)
  • Ristolainen: 25:13 TOI/GP (7th)
  • Skinner: 7 GWG (T-2nd), 31 G (T-3rd), 24 EVG (T-3rd), 3 OTG (T-3rd)

BUF-CAR CONNECTIONS
Former Hurricanes:

  • Sabres F Jeff Skinner spent eight seasons playing for the Hurricanes after being selected by the team in the first round (7th overall) of the 2010 NHL Draft. He played in 579 games for the club, scoring 204 goals and adding 175 assists. He still ranks in the top 10 in franchise history in games played (9th), goals (5th) and points (7th).
  • Sabres assistant coach Steve Smith was on the Hurricanes’ coaching staff for four seasons (2014-2018).

Former Sabres:

  • Hurricanes vice president of hockey operations Rick Dudley played and coached for the Sabres. He spent parts of three seasons (1972-1975) on the Sabres’ roster, skating in 279 games and scoring 164 points (70+94). He returned to the organization as the team’s head coach for three seasons (1989-1992).

Nathan Beaulieu:

  • Won a bronze medal for Team Canada with Hurricanes D Dougie Hamilton at the 2012 IIHF World Junior Championship.

Zach Bogosian:

  • Played for the Thrashers when Hurricanes General Manager Don Waddell was the general manager in Atlanta.

Jason Botterill:

  • Played for the Thrashers when Hurricanes General Manager Don Waddell was the general manager in Atlanta. The two later worked together in Pittsburgh when Botterill was the Penguins’ assistant general manager and Waddell served as a scout for the team.

Jack Eichel:

  • Played for Team USA with Hurricanes D Jaccob Slavin at the 2014 IIHF World Junior Championship.

Matt Hunwick:

  • Played with Hurricanes F Greg McKegg in Pittsburgh.
  • Won a bronze medal for Team USA with Hurricanes D Justin Faulk at the 2013 IIHF World Championship.

Johan Larsson:

  • Shares a birthday with Hurricanes F Jordan Martinook (July 25, 1992).
  • Played with Hurricanes F Nino Niederreiter in Minnesota.

Kyle Okposo:

  • Played for the Islanders with Hurricanes D Calvin de Haan and F Nino Niederreiter. Hurricanes assistant coach Dean Chynoweth was also on the Islanders’ coaching staff during Okposo’s tenure with the team.
  • Played for Team USA with Hurricanes D Justin Faulk at the 2012 IIHF World Championship.

Davis Payne:

  • Played with Hurricanes assistant coach Dean Chynoweth in Boston.
  • Was an assistant coach in Los Angeles when Hurricanes F Justin Williams was playing for the Kings.

Jason Pominville:

  • Played with Hurricanes F Nino Niederreiter in Minnesota.

Rasmus Ristolainen:

  • Has played for Team Finland with Hurricanes F Teuvo Teravainen three times: at the 2013 and 2014 IIHF World Junior Championships and at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey. The duo won a gold medal together in 2014.
  • Won a gold medal with Hurricanes F Saku Maenalanen at the 2014 IIHF World Junior Championship.
  • Represented Finland with Hurricanes F Sebastian Aho at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.

Marco Scandella:

  • Played with Hurricanes F Nino Niederreiter in Minnesota.
  • Won a silver medal for Team Canada with Hurricanes D Calvin de Haan at the 2011 IIHF World Junior Championship.

Conor Sheary:

  • Played with Hurricanes F Greg McKegg in Pittsburgh. Hurricanes goaltending coach Mike Bales was also on the Penguins’ coaching staff during Sheary’s tenure with the team.

Jeff Skinner:

  • Won a silver medal for Team Canada with Hurricanes D Calvin de Haan at the 2017 IIHF World Championship.

Vladimir Sobotka:

  • Played for the Czech Republic National Team with Hurricanes G Petr Mrazek at both the 2016 World Cup of Hockey and at the 2017 IIHF World Championship.

SABRES REAL-TIME STATS LEADERS
Hits: Ristolainen (157), Girgensons (84), McCabe (72)
Blocked Shots: Bogosian (80), Ristolainen (79), McCabe (76)
Shots: Eichel (200), Skinner (172), Ristolainen (127)

SABRES’ RECORD IN 10 GAME SEGMENTS [W-L-OTL (PTS), GF/GA, PP, PK] 1-10: 6-4-0 (12), 26/28, 8/38, 22/30
11-20: 6-2-2 (14), 35/27, 4/28, 26/29
21-30: 5-3-2 (12), 31/32, 5/28, 23/29
31-40: 4-4-2 (10), 24/27, 7/31, 27/29
41-50: 4-6-0 (8), 30/34, 1/25, 14/20
51-60: 1-1-0 (2), 8/11, 3/5, 5/5

OVERTIME RESULTS (6-5; 119-126 all-time)
Oct. 27 at CBJ: L, 5-4 (GWG-Panarin, 0:31)
Oct. 30 vs. CGY: L, 2-1 (GWG-Gaudreau, 2:40)
Nov. 8 at MTL: W, 6-5 (GWG-Ristolainen, 1:38)
Nov. 19 at PIT: W, 5-4 (GWG-Eichel, 0:45)
Nov. 23 vs. MTL: W, 3-2 (GWG-Skinner, 3:06)
Nov. 27 vs. SJS: W, 3-2 (GWG-Skinner, 1:41)
Nov. 30 at FLA: L, 3-2 (GWG-Barkov, 2:26)
Dec. 4 vs. TOR: L, 4-3 (GWG-Matthews, 4:57)
Dec. 11 vs. LAK: W, 4-3 (GWG-Skinner, 1:49)
Dec. 29 vs. BOS: L, 3-2 (GWG-Kuraly, 3:44)
Jan. 16 at CGY: W, 4-3 (GWG-Eichel, 1:10)

SHOOTOUT RESULTS (4-1; 74-67 all-time)
Nov. 10 vs. VAN: W, 4-3 (GDG-Mittelstadt)
Nov. 16 at WPG: W, 2-1 (GDG-Sheary)
Nov. 24 at DET: W, 3-2 (GDG-Reinhart)
Dec. 15 at WSH: L, 4-3 (GDG-Ovechkin)
Feb. 5 vs. MIN: W, 5-4 (GDG-Reinhart)

MILESTONES APPROACHING (Player … Needs … Milestone)
Games Played
Zach Bogosian … 1 game … 600 career games played
Rasmus Ristolainen … 2 games … 400 career games played
Marco Scandella … 2 games … 500 career games played
Jason Pominville … 6 games … 712 games with Sabres (T-8th in franchise
history)
Zemgus Girgensons … 7 games … 400 career games played
Goals
Jack Eichel … 10 goals … 100 career goals
Assists
Kyle Okposo … 4 assists … 300 career assists
Matt Hunwick … 8 assists … 100 career assists
Jeff Skinner … 9 assists … 200 career assists
Points
Jason Pominville … 1 point … 512 points with Sabres (sole possession, 8th in franchise history) 

RECENT MILESTONES
Sam Reinhart … 300th NHL game … Feb. 1 vs. CHI
Jason Pominville … 212th goal with Sabres (sole possession, 11th in franchise history) … Feb. 1 vs. CHI