BUFFALO – Other than switching to goalie Carter Hutton this afternoon against the Dallas Stars, the Sabres will utilize the same lineup as the past two games inside KeyBank Center.
That means forward Curtis Lazar, who was recalled from Rochester Americans on Sunday, will be scratched.
Despite the Stars’ sorry 1-4-1 record, they possess a lot of talent.
“They’re a much, much better team that their record,” said coach Ralph Krueger, whose Sabres have started 4-0-1.
Still, right now, the Stars are bad. Their power play, for example, has converted just of of 20 chances.
The same team that took the St. Louis Blues to the wire in last year’s Western Conference semifinal last season has looked awful through the opening two weeks.
What do the Stars, a chic Stanley Cup pick, have going for them?
They’ve owned the Sabres in recent seasons, beating them five straight times and eight of the last nine meetings.
Stars goalie Ben Bishop had dominated the Sabres throughout his career, beating them 12 straight games.
Overall, Bishop has compiled a 12-0-1 mark with a 1.37 goals against average and a .951 save percentage in 13 outings against the Sabres.
Hutton, meanwhile, has posted strong numbers versus the Stars – 3-3-2, 2.55 and .915 – in nine career contests.
Former Sabres defenseman Taylor Fedun, a scratch the last two games, will play this afternoon, Stars coach Jim Montgomery said.