Dallas Stars vs. Buffalo Sabres Pick & Prediction OCTOBER 22nd 2024

Stadium: First Niagara Center Buffalo
Logo Dallas Stars
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Logo Buffalo Sabres
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Preview and Prediction

Jake Oettinger and the Dallas Stars are looking to maintain their strong start to the season as they take on the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday night.

After signing an eight-year, $66 million contract extension last week, Oettinger proved his worth by making 30 saves in Dallas' 4-1 win over the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday.

Oettinger was just over two minutes away from his second shutout of the season, but his 4-0-0 record, 1.48 goals-against average, and .953 save percentage are still impressive.

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"It's a fantastic start to the season," Oettinger said. "We want to replicate last year's success. We were in control the whole season, and that's what we're aiming for."

The Stars have a number of players contributing to their success, including two 21-year-old forwards.

Wyatt Johnston, who led the team with 32 goals last season, has five points (one goal, four assists) in his first five games. Logan Stankoven has seven assists and is tied for the team lead in points with Roope Hintz.

"Both of them have the potential to be point-per-game players in this league," said Dallas coach Peter DeBoer. "It's definitely possible for Johnston this year, but for Stankoven, it's a lot to ask. He's not on the penalty kill and is more of a depth player in our lineup. He'll still make a big impact for us this season, but we don't want to put too much pressure on him."

Johnston scored a goal in Dallas' 3-2 win over Buffalo last season on April 9. Oettinger has a 4-0-1 record against the Sabres in his career, stopping 66 of 69 shots in two meetings last season.

The Sabres will be starting a four-game homestand after earning three points on their recent three-game road trip (1-1-1).

JJ Peterka returned from a two-game absence due to a concussion and made an immediate impact, scoring four goals on the road trip. His linemates, Tage Thompson and Alex Tuch, have also been contributing, with Thompson recording three goals and two assists in his last four games and Tuch leading the team in assists (five) and points (seven).

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"The line as a whole is creating a lot of opportunities," said Sabres coach Lindy Ruff. "They're generating chances in different ways, whether it's in the offensive zone or on the rush. It's great to have a line that's clicking like that."

However, the Sabres' power play has been struggling, going 0-for-21 so far this season.

PREDICTION
Dallas Stars
4
3
Buffalo Sabres

Dallas Stars vs. Buffalo Sabres

Victor Olofsson had a goal and an assist and Carter Hutton stopped 25 shots for the 12th shutout of his career to lead the Atlantic Division-leading Buffalo Sabres to a 4-0 victory over the Dallas Stars on Monday afternoon.

Sam Reinhart, Jeff Skinner and Marcus Johansson also scored goals and Jack Eichel had two assists for the Sabres who have opened the season with points in all six games (5-0-1), the first time since 2008-09 that Buffalo has accomplished that feat.

Olofsson's goal was his fifth of the season and seventh of his career, all coming on the power play. He is the first player in NHL history to score his first seven goals on the power play.

Ben Bishop finished with 18 saves while having a personal 12-game winning streak against Buffalo snapped. The loss also snapped a five-game win streak against the Sabres for Dallas, which has won just once in its first seven games.

Following a tight-checking first period that saw the two teams combined for just 11 shots, Buffalo took a 1-0 lead at the 6:27 mark of the second period when Olofsson one-timed a pass from Rasmus Dahlin from the right dot into the top right corner. The power-play goal ended Bishop's shutout streak against the Sabres at 155 minutes and 57 seconds.

Reinhart made it 2-0 with 2:04 left in the period with a one-timer from the top of the slot off Olofsson's setup that went through a screened Bishop's pads.

The Sabres increased their lead to 4-0 early in the third period with two goals in the span of 1:42.

Skinner got the first when he took a Valdimir Sobotka pass while cutting in front of the goal and then beat Bishop with a backhand shot under the crossbar for his fourth goal of the season.

Johansson followed with a slap shot from just inside the blue line through traffic that snuck just inside the left post for his third goal of the season with 13:58 left.