Must-win game for Buffalo Sabres as they face Philadelphia Flyers on the road - NHL Preview
It is now or never for the Buffalo Sabres as the results from their final two games of the 2011-12 regular season will decide whether they reach the playoffs or not. They face the Philadelphia Flyers on the road on Thursday, April 5th, 2012 in
a must-win encounter.
All the Sabres good work in the final half of the season to get back into the playoff picture hinges on these last two games.
Buffalo are tied on points for eighth place in the Eastern Conference with the Washington Capitals with both teams on 88-points.
Nothing but victory will keep Buffalo in the playoff picture since a loss in regulation time and a victory for the Capitals against Florida Panthers will ensure their elimination from the race for the final playoff spot.
Philadelphia, on the other hand, are already qualified for the playoff rounds and are comfortable in fifth in the Eastern Conference with 101 points.
The Flyers lost their last game against the New York Rangers and have put up inconsistent results recently having not won any of their last three games at home ice.
Sabres (39-31-10, 88 pts)
This is the moment for Buffalo to show their desire of getting into the Stanley Cup playoffs this season. They have been proving that desire since the second half of the season after bouncing back from the bottom of the Eastern Conference and right into
the mix for the playoffs.
However, this is the real test of the Sabres fighting spirit and the task is made all the more difficult after injuries have ruled out defensemen Tyler Myers and Christian Ehrhoff from the last two games of the season.
Buffalo though showed they still can spring a result after bouncing back from three goals down to defeat Toronto Maple Leafs 6-5 in overtime.
Coach Lindy Ruff said after the game.
"That's not how you draw them up, but it was a h**l of a way to win it. That game had everything."
They will look to repeat the same performance against the Flyers.
Flyers (46-25-9, 101 pts)
Philadelphia on the other hand can rest easy with the fact that they are already qualified for the Stanley Cup playoffs.
However, the Flyers will not take it easy on the Sabres as they look to end a three-game home ice losing streak and enter the playoffs on the back of some winning momentum.
The Flyers lost their last game out to the Eastern Conference leaders New York Rangers by 5-3 and centre Claude Giroux is unhappy with the team’s recent results.
"I don't know what we've got to do. Drink one more cup of coffee? I don't know. We've got to find a way to get a better start."
Predictions
Tough one to call but the Buffalo Sabres will be much hungrier for the win.
Sum of goals will be more than six.
Tags: