Coming off a extremely profitable West Coast street journey, the Buffalo Sabres return to dwelling ice on Wednesday to face the Minnesota Wild, once they seemingly will welcome again their main goal-scorer.
Tage Thompson advised reporters after follow Tuesday that he could be “able to go” in opposition to the second-place staff within the Central Division. The 27-year-old middle, who scored 47 targets and 94 factors two seasons in the past, has not performed since Nov. 11 on account of a lower-body harm. Regardless of lacking 5 video games, his 11 targets nonetheless lead the staff, and he ranks third in factors with 18.
Sabres coach Lindy Ruff confirmed Thompson’s return to the lineup on Wednesday morning.
Buffalo swept its California street journey, beating Los Angeles, Anaheim and San Jose in 4 days. The Sabres have been off Sunday and Monday earlier than returning to the ice Tuesday morning.
The successful streak has Ruff’s staff tied for eighth place within the Jap Convention. Nevertheless, with three-quarters of the season remaining, Ruff — who was in his first stint because the Sabres’ coach when the staff final made the playoffs in 2011 — is aware of his staff nonetheless must do extra in opposition to robust competitors.
It didn’t assist issues that Tuesday’s follow might have began higher, Ruff stated.
“You are available in off a street journey, and also you’re hoping that the staff may be able to exceed the depth that we have been capable of deliver on the journey,” Ruff stated. “It is the one approach to get higher.”
One space through which Ruff, whom the Sabres rehired in April, needs to see enchancment is staying out of the penalty field. Out west, Buffalo gave opponents 12 power-play alternatives whereas solely getting seven.
Minnesota involves Buffalo after falling at dwelling 4-1 in opposition to Central Division leaders Winnipeg on Monday. It was the staff’s second straight defeat following a shootout loss to Calgary on Saturday.
Monday’s loss was not for an absence of effort. The Wild generated a season-high 44 photographs on purpose, with half of these coming within the first interval. The 22 photographs have been the second-most of any staff in a single interval this season and have been essentially the most in a interval for the Wild in practically seven years.
Wild coach John Hynes felt his staff performed effectively however simply couldn’t get a lot previous Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck, a two-time Vezina Trophy winner.
“There’s some issues that we are able to develop from the sport, however we received a variety of hockey this week too,” Hynes advised reporters after Monday’s loss. “So, we received to place this one behind us, seize what we are able to take out of it, after which we received to make it possible for we’re refreshed once more (Tuesday) and we’re able to go in opposition to Buffalo.”
Regardless of the mini shedding streak, Minnesota’s 30 factors in 21 video games is tied with the 2013-14 squad for one of the best begin in franchise historical past.
Left winger Kirill Kaprizov leads the Wild in each targets (13) and assists (21). His 34 complete factors getting into Tuesday are tied for third within the NHL with Vegas’ Jack Eichel and some extent again from co-leaders Martin Necas of Carolina and Nathan MacKinnon of Colorado.
Minnesota may very well be with out defensive middle Jakub Lauko, who left Monday’s sport early with a lower-body harm. Hynes didn’t have an replace on his standing after the Jets sport.
–Subject Degree Media