Vancouver Canucks face surging Buffalo Sabres at home ice - NHL Preview
Vancouver Canucks face the Buffalo Sabres at the Rogers Arena in Vancouver as they look to remain top of the Western Conference on Saturday, March 3, 2012.
The Canucks in their second game of a seven game home stretch welcome the playoff chasing Buffalo Sabres with both teams fighting for two very important points.
Vancouver currently the best team in the league with 90 points will look to increase the gap between themselves and chasing Detroit Red Wings with another home win.
The Canucks ended a two game skid on Thursday, with a 2-0 shutout of St. Louis Blues at home and will be confident of once again taking all two points available over the Sabres.
Buffalo on the other hand are stuck deep in a race for the playoff spots in the Eastern Conference and the two points are crucial for them to maintain their late charge up the conference standings.
They trail eighth spot by four points as they lie 11th in the conference with 66 points.
With two straight wins in their last two games confidence is running high in the Sabres locker room and they will be looking to upset the Canucks at the Rogers Arena.
Canucks (41-16-8, 90 pts)
Vancouver were just recently in danger of giving up their pole position in the Western Conference to the Detroit Red Wings after losing two straight games.
However, they bounced back in spectacular style on their return to Rogers Arena shutting out a high flying St. Louis Blues team with a 2-0 victory.
Goaltender, Roberto Luongo, was massive in the Canucks win as he saved all 29 of the Blues shots while two late third period goals from Alex Burrows and Chris Higgins secured the win for Vancouver keeping them just a single point ahead at the top of the
Western Conference.
Luongo was impressed by his teammate’s performance after the game.
"These guys are right behind us, so it was a big game. We wanted to create a little separation there and we were able to do that. But, obviously, there's lots of hockey to be played."
Sabres (29-27-8, 66 pts)
The Buffalo Sabres have realised late that they want to reach the playoffs but a recent string of good results have put them right in the thick of the action.
Trailing eighth placed Winnipeg Jets by four points in the Eastern Conference the Sabres need every single point available if they want to get into the playoff rounds.
For now though they seem to be doing just that and their recent two road wins over Anaheim Ducks and San Jose Sharks will have greatly increased Buffalo’s confidence.
However, they face their toughest test yet on the road to Vancouver and it will take a big effort for them to make it three wins in a row.
Goaltender Ryan Miller played a big role in the Sabres last two shutout victories and knows the importance of winning between now and the end of the regular season.
"It's an important time of year for us, and I'm just happy to be there for the guys. They're battling hard right there with me. It's fun to get shutouts, but when we're in a 1-0 game and we really need the points, it should mean a lot to the whole team."
Predictions
Even though the Sabres are surging, Vancouver should be too strong for them on home ice.
Goals will be at a premium as both teams have some of the most inform goaltenders in the league.
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