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Sabres vs. Red Wings: Lines, Notes & How to Watch

Second game of three-game homestand for Red Wings

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4 weeks ago

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Red Wings action
Facing the Buffalo Sabres on Sunday afternoon, the Red Wings find even more teams situated between them and a playoff spot.

The next three games will go a long way in determining whether the Detroit Red Wings are going to be a playoff team this spring. A three-game gauntlet launches with a home date Sunday afternoon against the Buffalo Sabres. A win would move the Sabres to within a point of the Red Wings.

Tuesday, the Washington Capitals are in town, Detroit and the Caps are deadlocked at 82 points. On Thursday, the Red Wings travel to Pittsburgh and will be facing the Penguins. Pittsburgh is currently on 83 points.

“Yeah, we have to win games though,” Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin said. “We have to get points.

“Everything is magnified in the battles. You have to win your battles, win your moments and don’t leave any plays out there.”

Winning Saturday, the New York Islanders were moving to 85 points. The Philadelphia Flyers are at 83 points, but lost again Sunday, this time to the lowly Columbus Blue Jackets.

Game Time

Sunday: Buffalo at Detroit

Where: Little Caesars Arena

TV/RADIO: Bally Sports/97.1 FM

Time: 1 p.m.

Sabres Preview

Given up for dead, the Sabres have won three out of four, with key victories over the Flyers and Capitals . . . Forward J.J. Peterka has seven goals in the past seven games. He’s scored 25 of his team-leading 28 goals at even strength.

Red Wings killer Tage Thompson has nine goals in the last nine games . . . Since March 1, Thompson leads all Sabres skaters in points (19), even-strength points (16), shots (57) and plus/minus (plus-11).

Red Wings Preview

Detroit coach Derek Lalonde is boldly shuffling his lines. He’s going to try Austin Czarnik at center between Patrick Kane and Alex DeBrincat. “Played around with some different things,” Lalonde said. “Sometimes it just connects. Czarnik, Cat and Kane, they’ll get some shifts together post-penalty kill and so forth, it’s looked good. Probably a different look that could potentially help our depth throughout our lineup.”

Other lines figure to be David Perron-Larkin-Lucas Raymond, Andrew Copp-J.T. Compher-Christian Fischer and Robby Fabbri-Joe Veleno-Daniel Sprong . . . Forward Michael Rasmussen will miss a second straight game due to an upper-body injury. ““Definitely out for (Sunday),” Lalonde confirmed. “We’ll re-evaluate for practice on Monday. Hopefully for Tuesday but that might be a little aggressive.” . . . Defenseman Olli Maatta (upper-body injury) is questionable . . . Alex Lyon gets the nod in goal.

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