Game Day Set-Up: Jets @ Sabres

When: Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Time: 6:00 p.m. CST

Where: First Niagara Center, Buffalo, New York

Records: Winnipeg Jets (15-15-5, 12th in the Western Conference), Buffalo Sabres (7-23-3, 15th in the Eastern Conference)

Television/Radio: TSN-JETS, MSG-B, BELL TV/ TSN 1290 Radio

On the Horizon: Friday, December 20th at home against the Florida Panthers (7:00 p.m. CST).

Last Game: 3-2 road win over the Columbus Blue Jackets

Top Scorers:

Winnipeg Jets: Bryan Little (14 goals, 17 assists, 31 points), Blake Wheeler (11 goals, 14 assists, 25 points), Dustin Byfuglien (6 goals, 18 assists, 24 points), Andrew Ladd (8 goals, 15 assists, 23 points), Olli Jokinen (8 goals, 13 assists, 21 points)

Buffalo Sabres: Matt Moulson (11 goals, 10 assists, 21 points), Cody Hodgson (8 goals, 10 assists, 18 points), Tyler Ennis (7 goals, 6 assists, 13 points),  Zemgus Girgensons (3 goals, 8 assists, 11 points), Christian Ehrhoff (2 goals, 8 assists, 10 points)

Game Day Notes:

– The Sabres are coming off a 2-1 Overtime loss to the Calgary Flames on Saturday and are 2-6-2 in their last 10 games

– The Sabres average 1.54 goals/game, worst in the NHL

– The Jets have a record of 7-2-1 against Eastern Conference opponents this year.

– Jets forward Evander Kane had a goal and an assist in Monday’s 3-2 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets in his first game back after missing six games with a lower body injury.

– Jets rookie forward Mark Scheifele is on a three game points streak and has eight points (three goals, five assists) in his last 11 games

– On Tuesday morning, the Jets re-called Eric O’Dell from the St.John’s IceCaps of the American Hockey League. O’Dell has 29 points (12 goals, 17 assists) in 28 games for the IceCaps this year.

Special Teams Breakdown:

– Buffalo has the 27th Ranked Power Play in the NHL (13.1%) and the 23rd Ranked Penalty Kill in the NHL (80.4%)

– Winnipeg has the 26th Ranked Power Play in the NHL (13.3%) and the 15th Ranked Penalty Kill in the NHL (82.9%)

Starting Goalies:

– Ondrej Pavelec (10-13-4, 2.85 GAA, .909 Save Percentage)

–  Ryan Miller (6-17-0, 2.91 GAA, .921 Save Percentage)  

Projected Winnipeg Jets Line Combinations:

Andrew Ladd-Bryan Little-Blake Wheeler
Evander Kane-Mark Scheifele-Michael Frolik
Chris Thorburn-Olli Jokinen-Devin Setoguchi
Eric O’Dell-John Albert-Eric Tangradi

Dustin Byfuglien- Grant Clitsome
Jacob Trouba – Tobias Enstrom
Mark Stuart- Adam Pardy

Al Montoya
Ondrej Pavelec

Healthy Scratches: Keaton Ellerby

Projected Buffalo Sabres Line Combinations:

Matt Moulson- Cody Hodgson- Zemgus Girgensons
Ville Leino-Tyler Ennis-Matt D’Agostini
Steve Ott-Marcus Foligno-Drew Stafford
Brian Flynn-Kevin Porter-Matt Ellis

Henrik Tallinder – Tyler Myers
Christian Ehrhoff- Jamie McBain
Alexander Sulzer- Mike Weber

Ryan Miller
Jhonas Enroth

Healthy Scratches: John Scott, Chad Ruhwedell

Injury Report:

Buffalo Sabres: Patrick Kaleta (knee), Cody McCormick (upper body)

Winnipeg Jets:  Matt Halischuk (forearm, Injured Reserve), Paul Postma (leg, indefinitely), Jim Slater (sports hernia surgery, indefinitely), Zach Bogosian (lower body), James Wright