BY: JOE KONZE JR
After a long, grueling 10 month hiatus, hockey is back in Buffalo and the city is buzzing.
The Buffalo Sabres are set to kick off its 2021 NHL season tonight at home against the 2018 Stanley cup and Metropolitan Division champion Washington Capitals in game one of a back-to-back MassMutual NHL East Division matchup. Over the last five years, Washington boasts a 4-8-2 record against Buffalo.
Hopes are high for the Sabres after signing free-agent forward Taylor Hall this offseason to play on the left side of Jack Eichel. The thought of the two elite, high-caliber players being paired together has fans wondering if 2021 will be the year the Sabres finally break the nine-year drought.
With the 2021 season just moments away here are five things reasons to watch tonight’s game.
The Impact of Taylor Hall
If there is one word to describe Taylor Hall it is dynamic.
The veteran forward is an explosive skater with incredible acceleration and he can create opportunities in the offensive zone with his creativity and puck savvy skills.
Hall was a highly sought-after free agent this offseason, and Buffalo was able to land him on a one-year $8 million deal. He will play alongside Jack Eichel in hopes of creating some magic for a Sabres team that has not seen the playoffs in nine seasons.
In 65 games last season, between the New Jersey Devils and Arizona Coyotes, Hall amassed 16 goals, 36 assists, and 52 points.
With Hall paired up on the left side of Jack Eichel’s line, will we see sparks fly? Will anyone be able to stop them?
Tage Thompson earns spot on top line
Forward Tage Thompson’s stock skyrocketed this training camp and this caught the eye of head coach Ralph Krueger.
In tonight’s contest, Thompson will take his place on the first line alongside Eichel and Hall.
Acquired in the Ryan O’Reilly trade in 2018, Thompson has yet to have a breakthrough in the NHL and has struggled to stay healthy. In his first season, he was a non-factor (12 points in 65 games), and in his second season, he failed to make the Sabres’ roster. After compiling 12 points in 16 games for the Rochester Americans, he earned a call-up in Nov. 2019, but a shoulder injury in his first game with the Sabres sidelined him for the season.
Standing at 6-foot-5, Thompson is versatile for his size. He has a blistering shot and protects the puck well. What is most notable of Thompson’s play is his ability to battle for pucks down low and push the puck out to the front of the net.
Eichel and Hall are desperately in need of a guy that is willing to go into the corner to create chances in the offensive zone.
With a chance to play with the magic duo, will Thompson finally breakthrough this season?
Hutton gets the nod between the pipes
It may not be the popular choice among Sabres fans, but Carter Hutton will get the start tonight in net against the Capitals.
Coach Ralph Krueger has praised Hutton’s work during camp, but Hutton’s start tonight could be due to Linus Ullmark being unavailble for the first four skates of camp due to quarantine requirements.
Hutton struggled mightily last season, posting a 12-14-4 record with a 3.18 goals-against average and .898 save percentage in 31 appearances. This past offseason, Hutton said that he suffered from a vision disorder during the 2019-20 season but didn’t want to make any excuses.
Hutton has been streaky at times and posted a 6-1-1 record in October while posting a .926 save percentage and a 2.21 goals against average. But if he has, in fact, corrected his vision and can track the puck, maybe the Sabres can hold on to leads late in games this season.
Will Dahlin take his play to the next level?
Is that Rasmus Dahlin out there or Ivan Drago?
The former No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NHL draft is listed at 207 pounds, up from 193 at the start of last season. With 14 pounds of muscle on his frame, this could help aid his defensive game significantly.
In 59 games last season, Dahlin compiled four goals, 36 assists, and 40 points. His 84 points through two seasons are second-most by a teenage defensive in NHL history, behind Bruins Hall of Famer Ray Bourque.
Dahlin will anchor the second pairing with Brandon Montour to start the season, but his huge offseason could help catapult him into the No. 1 pairing at some point this season.
Can Jeff Skinner regain his form?
Jeff Skinner had an impressive 2018 season playing alongside captain Jack Eichel.
He scored 40 goals, added 23 assists and 63 points. This helped earn him a eight-year, $72 million extension. But last season, Skinner struggled to find the back of the net and his production fell off in Krueger’s system. The 10-year NHL veteran scored 14 goals and nine assists in 59 games.
Tonight, Skinner will start the season on the fourth line with Curtis Lazar and new comer Riley Sheahan. Coach Krueger said earlier in the week that Skinner had some success last season with Lazar, but this whole thing is still a big questions mark.
Time will tell if Skinner can regain his 2018 form but it will be tough to see him find the back of the net night in and night out if he is buried on the fourth line.
The Sports Desk can be reached at editorialtrainwrecksports@gmail.com
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