| | | |
BUFFALO PITTSBURGH |
|
| 6 | 5 Final 4 |
|
|
| | |
|
|
| | |
|
3 | BUFFALO | +170 | Ov 5.5,-135 | +150 | Ov 6,-115 | 4 | PITTSBURGH | -200 | Un 5.5,+115 | -170 | Un 6,-105 |
|
|
| |
|
| | | | | |
|
|
All Games | 12-8-0 | +6.8 | 12-8 | +6.8 | 10-9 | 3.0 | 32.0 | 2.8 | 32.0 | Team Stats (Road Games) | 6-5-0 | +3.7 | 6-5 | +3.7 | 5-5 | 2.9 | 33.1 | 2.9 | 31.4 | Last 5 Games | 5-0-0 | +6.7 | 5-0 | +6.7 | 2-3 | 3.4 | 29.6 | 2.4 | 34.2 |
|
| |
|
|
Team Stats (All Games) | 20 | 60 | 17 | 19 | 21 | 3 | 5 | 641 | 9.4% | 66 | 12 | 18.2% | 105 | Team Stats (Road Games) | 11 | 32 | 9 | 7 | 14 | 2 | 3 | 364 | 8.8% | 39 | 6 | 15.4% | 56 | Team Stats (Last 5 Games) | 5 | 17 | 6 | 2 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 148 | 11.5% | 10 | 1 | 10.0% | 27 | Stats Against (All Games) | | 56 | 17 | 20 | 17 | 2 | 5 | 640 | 8.7% | 59 | 11 | 18.6% | 92 | Stats Against (Road Games) | | 32 | 11 | 12 | 8 | 1 | 4 | 345 | 9.3% | 36 | 8 | 22.2% | 53 | Stats Against (Last 5 Games) | | 12 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 171 | 7.0% | 14 | 1 | 7.1% | 20 |
|
| |
|
|
CARTER HUTTON (All Games) | 15 | 14 | 442 | 406 | 91.9% | 0 | 7-7 | +0.9 | 7-7-0 | +1 | 6-7 | CARTER HUTTON (Road Games) | 7 | 6 | 177 | 162 | 91.5% | 0 | 2-4 | -1.3 | 2-4-0 | -1 | 2-3 | CARTER HUTTON (Last 4 Games) | 4 | 3 | 100 | 95 | 95.0% | 0 | 3-0 | +3.8 | 3-0-0 | +4 | 1-2 | LINUS ULLMARK (All Games) | 6 | 6 | 193 | 178 | 92.2% | 0 | 5-1 | +6 | 5-1-0 | +6 | 4-2 | LINUS ULLMARK (Road Games) | 5 | 5 | 164 | 151 | 92.1% | 0 | 4-1 | +5 | 4-1-0 | +5 | 3-2 | LINUS ULLMARK (Last 4 Games) | 4 | 4 | 137 | 123 | 89.8% | 0 | 3-1 | +3 | 3-1-0 | +3 | 3-1 |
|
|
| |
|
|
All Games | 7-11-0 | -11.4 | 7-11 | -11.4 | 7-8 | 3.3 | 32.7 | 3.4 | 32.8 | Team Stats (Home Games) | 3-6-0 | -8.7 | 3-6 | -8.7 | 3-4 | 2.8 | 31.2 | 4.0 | 32.2 | Last 5 Games | 1-4-0 | -4 | 1-4 | -4 | 2-2 | 2.8 | 34.2 | 3.2 | 29.4 |
|
| |
|
|
Team Stats (All Games) | 18 | 60 | 20 | 21 | 17 | 2 | 2 | 588 | 10.2% | 55 | 14 | 25.5% | 106 | Team Stats (Home Games) | 9 | 25 | 9 | 11 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 281 | 8.9% | 28 | 4 | 14.3% | 45 | Team Stats (Last 5 Games) | 5 | 14 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 171 | 8.2% | 16 | 5 | 31.2% | 24 | Stats Against (All Games) | | 61 | 18 | 24 | 16 | 3 | 3 | 590 | 10.3% | 60 | 12 | 20.0% | 100 | Stats Against (Home Games) | | 36 | 14 | 13 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 290 | 12.4% | 29 | 8 | 27.6% | 60 | Stats Against (Last 5 Games) | | 16 | 5 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 147 | 10.9% | 22 | 5 | 22.7% | 28 |
|
| |
|
|
CASEY DESMITH (All Games) | 11 | 7 | 272 | 253 | 93.0% | 1 | 3-4 | -3.4 | 3-4-0 | -3 | 1-5 | CASEY DESMITH (Home Games) | 6 | 3 | 132 | 124 | 93.9% | 1 | 2-1 | -0.5 | 2-1-0 | 0 | 0-3 | CASEY DESMITH (Last 4 Games) | 4 | 3 | 110 | 102 | 92.7% | 1 | 1-2 | -1.3 | 1-2-0 | -1 | 0-2 | TRISTAN JARRY (All Games) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0-0-0 | 0 | 0-0 | TRISTAN JARRY (Home Games) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0-0-0 | 0 | 0-0 | MATT MURRAY (All Games) | 11 | 11 | 317 | 278 | 87.7% | 0 | 4-7 | -8 | 4-7-0 | -8 | 6-3 | MATT MURRAY (Home Games) | 6 | 6 | 158 | 130 | 82.3% | 0 | 1-5 | -8.2 | 1-5-0 | -8 | 3-1 | MATT MURRAY (Last 4 Games) | 4 | 4 | 94 | 78 | 83.0% | 0 | 0-4 | -5.8 | 0-4-0 | -5 | 2-1 |
|
| Average power rating of opponents played: BUFFALO 3.09, PITTSBURGH 3.11 |
| | |
|
10/25/2018 | MONTREAL | 4-3 | W | 0, -125 | W | 5.5 un | O | 10/27/2018 | at COLUMBUS | 4-5 | L | 0, +170 | L | 5.5 ov | O | 10/30/2018 | CALGARY | 1-2 | L | 0, -120 | L | 6 ev | U | 11/1/2018 | at OTTAWA | 2-4 | L | 0, -130 | L | 6 ev | P | 11/3/2018 | OTTAWA | 9-2 | W | 0, -175 | W | 6.5 ev | O | 11/4/2018 | at NY RANGERS | 1-3 | L | 0, +110 | L | 5.5 ov | U | 11/8/2018 | at MONTREAL | 6-5 | W | 0, +115 | W | 5.5 ov | O | 11/10/2018 | VANCOUVER | 4-3 | W | 0, -170 | W | 6 ov | O | 11/13/2018 | TAMPA BAY | 2-1 | W | 0, +105 | W | 6 ov | U | 11/16/2018 | at WINNIPEG | 2-1 | W | 0, +170 | W | 6 ov | U | 11/17/2018 | at MINNESOTA | 3-2 | W | 0, +180 | W | 5.5 ov | U | 11/19/2018 | at PITTSBURGH | | 11/21/2018 | PHILADELPHIA | | 11/23/2018 | MONTREAL | | 11/24/2018 | at DETROIT | | 11/27/2018 | SAN JOSE | | 11/29/2018 | at TAMPA BAY | | 11/30/2018 | at FLORIDA | |
|
|
| |
|
10/23/2018 | at EDMONTON | 6-5 | W | 0, -120 | W | 6 ov | O | 10/25/2018 | at CALGARY | 9-1 | W | 0, -105 | W | 6.5 un | O | 10/27/2018 | at VANCOUVER | 5-0 | W | 0, -190 | W | 6.5 un | U | 10/30/2018 | NY ISLANDERS | 3-6 | L | 0, -235 | L | 6 ov | O | 11/1/2018 | at NY ISLANDERS | 2-3 | L | 0, -165 | L | 6.5 ev | U | 11/3/2018 | TORONTO | 0-5 | L | 0, -140 | L | 6.5 ov | U | 11/5/2018 | NEW JERSEY | 1-5 | L | 0, -170 | L | 6 ev | P | 11/7/2018 | at WASHINGTON | 1-2 | L | 0, +110 | L | 6.5 ev | U | 11/10/2018 | ARIZONA | 4-0 | W | 0, -200 | W | 6 ev | U | 11/13/2018 | at NEW JERSEY | 2-4 | L | 0, -130 | L | 6 ov | P | 11/15/2018 | TAMPA BAY | 3-4 | L | 0, -120 | L | 6 ov | O | 11/17/2018 | at OTTAWA | 4-6 | L | 0, -145 | L | 6 ov | O | 11/19/2018 | BUFFALO | | 11/21/2018 | DALLAS | | 11/23/2018 | at BOSTON | | 11/24/2018 | COLUMBUS | | 11/27/2018 | at WINNIPEG | | 11/28/2018 | at COLORADO | |
|
| | | BUFFALO: LAST SEASON: 25-45-12, 62 points. Finished last in NHL standings for third time in five years.
COACH: Phil Housley (second season, second NHL season).
ADDED: LW Jeff Skinner, LW Conor Sheary, C Tage Thompson, C Patrik Berglund, C Vladimir Sobotka, rookie D Rasmus Dahlin, D Matt Hunwick, D Lawrence Pilut, G Carter Hutton. LOST: C Ryan O'Reilly, G Robin Lehner, LW Benoit Pouliot, D Victor Antipin, D Josh Gorges, C Jordan Nolan, G Chad Johnson.
PLAYER TO WATCH: All eyes will be on Dahlin, the 18-year-old Swedish-born smooth-skating, play-making defenseman selected with the first pick in the draft. Dahlin has such potential, Hockey Hall of Fame COACH and nine-time Stanley Cup-winner Scotty Bowman says the youngster has the potential to become the best defenseman in Sabres history. Dahlin has already roused a fan base, which jammed the Sabres 1,800-seat practice facility to see him perform during the team's rookie camp in June and a four-team prospects tournament earlier this month.
OUTLOOK: The Sabres can't get much worse than the over-priced and under-achieving squad that won three straight games just once, and endured losing streaks of four or more games seven times last season. Things became so grim, O'Reilly in April revealed he LOST his passion for playing at times, and a losing mentality crept into the locker room. O'Reilly was traded to St. Louis in one of numerous moves GM Jason Botterill made to overhaul a roster that will feature anywhere between nine and 12 players not in the season-opening lineup a year ago. The question is how long it will take for the newcomers to find chemistry. | | PITTSBURGH: LAST SEASON: 47-29-6, 100 points. Finished second in Metropolitan Division. LOST to Washington Capitals in Eastern Conference semifinals.
COACH: Mike Sullivan (fourth season, sixth NHL season).
ADDED: D Jack Johnson, C Matt Cullen. LOST: F Conor Sheary, F Tom Kuhnhackl, D Matt Hunwick, F Carter Rowney.
PLAYER TO WATCH: G Matt Murray. The 24-year-old endured an up and down first season as the franchise's full-time starter. His goals against average (2.92) and save percentage (.907) all took significant dips off his previous two seasons. Having spotty play in front of him didn't help. If Murray can return to the steady form that helped the Penguins to consecutive Stanley Cups in 2016 and 2017, Pittsburgh will be a tough out in the postseason.
OUTLOOK: Pittsburgh's bid to become the first team in more than 30 years to "threepeat" ended with a loss to Washington. They opted to tinker than totally retool in the offseason, splurging on Johnson and bringing back the 42-year-old Cullen to provide depth down the middle. With Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin around, the Penguins will always be in the mix. But with the core of Crosby, Malkin, Phil Kessel and Kris Letang all in their early 30s, staying fresh for eight months will be a challenge. |
| | Sabres, Penguins heading in different directions
The Pittsburgh Penguins and Buffalo Sabres, who meet Monday at PPG Paints Arena, seem to have switched identities this season. The Penguins, winners of the Stanley Cup two of the past three seasons, are 7-8-3, last in the Eastern Conference and mired in a 1-7-1 funk. The Sabres, doormats for several years, are 12-6-2 and have won five straight. The teams' results in their most recent game on Saturday underscore the differences. Pittsburgh scored first but gave up five unanswered goals in a 6-4 loss at Ottawa. Buffalo overcame a two-goal deficit for a 3-2 win at Minnesota, the second road victory in as many nights. "It goes to show we have a different group, a different mindset and a different attitude," said Buffalo winger Jason Pominville, who scored the winner against the Wild with 90 seconds left and also had an assist. The Sabres last won five in a row March 19-27, 2012. This is the first time since 2009-10 they have at least 26 points through 20 games. "I give a lot of credit to our guys," Buffalo coach Phil Housley said. "It just showed the character of this team, the fight and the battle." Only Tampa Bay and Toronto have more points in the Eastern Conference than Buffalo. Pittsburgh, conversely, has a way to go to climb back above the playoff cutoff line. The club might have a way to go just to get a couple wins. "We're in a deep hole, and we have to figure it out," Penguins defenseman Kris Letang said. "We can't be sorry for ourselves. ... We have all the skill in the world, but right now it's not working." No. 1 goaltender Matt Murray has been pulled in three of his past six starts, including Saturday, and his confidence is waning, according to coach Mike Sullivan. "I'm sure it is," Sullivan said. "He's a human being. He's a proud guy, and he wants to do well. Sometimes when you get in these types of circumstances, you can try a little too hard and it gets in the way of your instinctual play. There's always that fine line of trying but making sure you don't try too hard because that can be counterproductive." Pittsburgh team captain Sidney Crosby has missed the past two games because of an upper-body injury. He has been skating on his own and is considered day-to-day, but Pittsburgh was off Sunday and it is unknown whether he might be available Monday. Coming back home isn't necessarily a comfort zone for the Penguins, who are 3-5-1 at PPG Paints Arena. "As a group, we've just got to find a way," said winger Matt Cullen, the oldest player in the NHL at 42, who scored one of three third-period goals Saturday as the Penguins made a push that fell short against the Senators. "I think we're better than the way we're playing," Cullen said. "The last period showed some fight, but from the drop of the puck we need to have more urgency in our game. "Time goes pretty quick. We find ourselves at Thanksgiving here pretty soon. We've got to get to our game and do it more consistently. "These are important points for us. We can't keep missing our opportunities." |
| Last Updated: 4/20/2024 8:30:32 AM EST. |
|
|
| |
|