Buffalo look to capture playoff spot with win over Minnesota Wild - NHL Preview
Buffalo Sabres are on fire and will look to continue their hot streak on Saturday, March 24, 2012, when they host the lowly Minnesota Wild at the First Niagara Center.
The Sabres have been in devastating form recently and their winning run has brought them right at the verge of taking over the Eastern Conference’s last playoff spot.
Buffalo are currently ninth in the conference with 82-points but are tied with Washington Capitals who occupy the eighth and final playoff spot.
This is the moment the Sabres have worked hard for all season and they will be confident of finally moving into a postseason berth against a mediocre Minnesota Wild.
The Wild have nothing left to play for in the regular season after a poor run of form dropped them down into the bottom three of the Western Conference.
However, recently Minnesota, have put together two wins in a row and are finally showing some fight in their performances.
The Wild, are currently 13th in the Western Conference with just 72-points.
Sabres (36-29-10, 82 pts)
Buffalo put together some brilliant performances in its last three games and will be looking for a fourth straight victory to propel themselves into eighth.
They have every right to feel confident after routing the Eastern Conference leaders New York Rangers 4-1 on Friday that too on the road.
Buffalo took control in the second period as they took a 2-1 lead over the home team. In the third they performed even better and two goals from Tyler Ennis and Drew Stafford helped the Sabres take home a comfortable victory.
Stafford said after the thumping win.
"We've put a lot of work into getting to the position where we're at right now, but obviously we're not there yet. We're not worried about the other teams around us. We know if we play well, take care of our business and win the games, we'll be sitting just
fine. Right now we haven't accomplished anything."
Wild (31-32-10, 72 pts)
Minnesota have entered a good run of form as well.
However, with nothing left to play for the Wild will be looking to spoil the Sabres advance with another gritty display.
Minnesota won its last game after a tense shootout with the Calgary Flames.
The Wild pegged back the playoff chasing Flames 2-0 lead to send the game to overtime. Devin Setoguchi scored the winner in the shootout to give Minnesota its second straight win.
Predictions
Buffalo will win the game easily.
Sum of goals will be more than six.
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