The Detroit Red Wings face the Buffalo Sabres with both teams looking to improve from promising starts to the season. The Red Wings have a 15-11-7 record while the Sabres have a 16-14-2 record and a four-game winning streak but haven't played 10 days because of the snowstorm. Both teams are looking to improve in the Atlantic Division and the Eastern Conference and the upcoming game looks to be a good one as a result.
The Red Wings are having a promising season with their offense stepping up and scoring 3.03 goals per game including five goals in their recent win. Dylan Larkin and David Perron have scored 25 goals and 34 assists to lead the top line but the rest of the offense has stepped up as well. Dominik Kubalik, Lucas Raymond, and Andrew Copp have combined for 21 goals and 44 assists while defensemen Filip Hronek and Olli Maatta have added 10 goals and 28 assists from the point to help open up the offense.
The offense has stepped up but the defense has let the Red Wings down this season, allowing 3.22 goals per game. Hronek and Maatta have combined for 4.3 defensive point shares and 75 blocked shots but the rest of the unit has struggled, allowing opponents to carry the puck into the offensive zone and find open shots on the net at will. Moreover, with the Red Wings playing the second game of a back-to- back, they will turn to backup goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic who has struggled in the net with a .880 save percentage and a 4.09 goals-against average on 292 shots.