The Hawks are back in action tonight as they look to build on the great performance in the home opener, which saw them pick up the 4-2 victory over the San Jose Sharks. Tonight they will go to battle with the Buffalo Sabres, who to put it lightly are off to a slow start this season. The Sabres come into this one with a 1-4-1 record, with their loan victory coming a week ago when they defeated the Panthers 5-2. In recent memory, the Blackhawks have played very well against the Sabres, going 16-4-2 over their last 22 matchups and going 11-2 at the United Center. Now those numbers are really nothing to focus on because that goes back to the Cup Era Blackhawks, and well, this team just isn’t that but a fun stat non the less.
The Sabres are a team that I think a lot of hockey fans want to see get over the hump and play meaningful hockey again. Buffalo is always among the tops in TV viewership, so the market is there. They just can't seem to get consistent or find the right combo to help them thrive. They have an exciting group of young players, and hopefully they can figure it out soon. As for tonight, they are turning to the more fun names to say in the league, Ukko-Pekka-Lukkonen between the pipes. This season he hasn’t been able to get to where he wants to be number wise, posting a 0-2-1 record and a.874 save percentage. One thing that might help him is how well he’s played against the Hawks. In two career games, he holds a 2-0 record, a.956 save percentage, and a shutout.
Similar to what we saw in Thursday's win with only a few changes. Athanasiou draws back into the lineup and will see Reichel move to the wing. Maroon will sit this one out after blocking a shot in the league on Thursday, and the team wants to allow him some time to rest. Anderson will be out of this one as well as he deals with an illness, so that means Donato will be back in the lineup for the first time since last Saturday's 5-2 victory over the Oilers. Soderblom gets the net in this one and after the amazing performance against the Jets. If he can play like that against a playoff-type team, hopefully he can turn it up again this time against the struggling Sabres.
Thats going to be it from me, puck drop is set for 7pm central time and once again coverage will be over on CHSN and I hope you all are finding ways to get it if the antenna isn’t working for you. As always, Lets Go Hawks!
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