As the Sabres and Devils take to the foreign ice of the O2 Arena in Prague, I'm sure there's a punchline about devils and hell freezing over in there somewhere, but we're talking hockey, not comedy, so let's dive into the nitty-gritty.
Firstly, the netminders can't be ignored. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen for Buffalo, keeping the crease last season with a 91.0 save percentage, not to be sneezed at, even if his recent stat of 86.4% suggests a bit of frostbite on his form. Jacob Markstrom of the Devils slightly behind him last season at 90.8%, but has been downright devilish of late, with a sizzling 96.8% save rate.
Turning to the troops, Sabres might have a big gun in Tage Thompson, who notched 29 goals and 27 assists last season, with Owen Power and Bowen Byram, providing extra firepower. But, it seems like they've been shooting more blanks than targets this month, so let's hope Thompson finds his target-practice dummy in time.
On the Devils' side, Nico Hischier seems to be making a deal with the devil with his 26 goals and 37 assists last season, while Dawson Mercer's 20 goals and Stefan Noesen's 15 keep their firepower hot. The recent form isn't something to write home about, though Mercer has at least found the net once in the recent past.
Looking at the history books, the past clashes seem to favor the Devils, with the Sabres lacing up their skates on thin ice. The Devils nearly doubled the Sabres in their last meeting and hold majority victories over their past few clashes. With both teams’ last seasons' records quite similar, it won't be a walk in the park for either team.
Considering the recent results, it's a bit of a mixed bag. Sure, Buffalo managed to trample Tampa Bay but lost to New Jersey in their last meeting. On the flip side, The Devils seem to have a knack of coming out on top when it matters, like their win against the Sabres and Toronto.
So, by my reckoning, grab your pitchforks and call an exorcist, because I predict the Devils are going to make it a frosty night for the Sabres in Prague.
Albert’s Prediction: New Jersey Devils by 2