Red Wings at Sabres: What to Know

Game Facts

Who: Red Wings at Buffalo

Where: KeyBank Center, Buffalo

When: 7:30 p.m.

TV/Radio: ESPN+, Hulu/97.1 FM

Records: Red Wings 13-7-3, Sabres 10-13-1.

What to Know

We’ll get this out the way now: No Patrick Kane debut tonight in his hometown. He had his first practice with the Red Wings on Monday and Derek Lalonde had said  that playing tonight would have been “ambitious.” Kane said the delay isn’t for conditioning reasons. “My body feels good,” he said Monday. “Just more almost learning the game again. Hopefully it’s one of those things if you do it for one game, two games, three games, it comes back to you pretty naturally. I’m confident I’ll get there. Just gotta be patient with it a little bit, I guess.” He’s likely to make his debut Thursday in Detroit against San Jose. ….

The Red Wings have won two in a row and five of their last six, while the Sabres have lost three in a row and five of their last seven. Part of the reason has been the resurgent power play. The Wings have scored a power-play goal in each of the last six games. …

Buffalo will have Tage Thompson back in the lineup.. He had missed the last nine games due to a wrist injury. It could be a boost to the Sabres’ sagging offense. He had 47 goals last season, six in 16 games this season before he was hurt. …

Buffalo’s defense has left a lot to be desired this season, allowing 3.4 goals per game, but goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has been outstanding, with a 2.81 GAA and a .905 save percentage. …

Goalie who appeared in three games with #RedWings in 2019-20 starts tonight against Wings at Sabres (7:30, ESPN-Plus/Hulu). https://t.co/dCueHk8Chm

— Ansar Khan (@AnsarKhanMLive) December 5, 2023

Speaking of hot goalies, Alex Lyon is back in net tonight for the Red Wings. He’s 3-1 this season with a 1.26 GAA and a .958 save percentage. Those numbers are keeping James Reimer on the bench for the time being.