Analysis: Chicago - Buffalo, odds and tips

Buffalo’s dark series continues. The pursued by injuries Sabres will go to Chicago where they are to meet Blackhawks.

Classification and team condition:
Chicago Blackhawks – 46 matches, 27 wins, 19 defeats, 60 points and 4th place in the West. Buffalo Sabres – 45 matches, 19 wins, 26 defeats, 43 points and 11th place in the East.

Potential and team situation:
Joen Quenneveille’s players have already forgotten about the crisis at the beginning of January when they lost 3 important matches against Flyers, Colorado and Detroit. In the match against a very strong opponent Sun Jose Sharks (4:3) we could be reassured that the team was returning to a better condition. The thing that strokes the eye is all the better and better cooperation of “Black hawks’” third formation. The D. Bolland – V. Stalberg duet score pucks when they want to, similar to A. Shaw. Four pucks in the match against Sharks who play roughly and reputably in the defense is probably a good forecast before the match against Sabres.
Sabres are going to United Center in the worst mood. Quite recently Buffalo presented itself rather well in away matches. Since the moment when 4 main defenders fell out of Lindy Ruff’s lineup (Ehrhoff, Regehr, McNabb, Ennis) Sabres haven’t been able to deal with the tension at away arenas. Proof? Sabres lost 6 away matches in a row, all in regular time. However little it was Andrej Sekera dropped out of the lineup after the defeat from Detroit (0:5).

History of meetings:
Chicago and Buffalo are meeting for the first time this season; last season Blackhawks won with the score 4:3 in a home match.

Tips and justification:
The biggest disadvantage in Buffalo’s game is definitely the weak efficiency and problems with goalies. Miller and Enrot haven’t been presenting themselves from the best side since the beginning of the season, their recent achievements, rate of efficiency of interference at the level of 85-90% which is not a cause for happiness. What is even worse they will have to play their third in a row away match, moreover against an opponent which is stronger than others at his own arena (17-9).

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