Time: 07:00 P.M. EST Venue: First Niagara Center
The teams with the worst records in the NHL teams meet twice in the next five days, and it's hard to ignore the likelihood that these matchups will determine the fates of Connor McDavid and Jack Eichel. Those prospects are expected to be taken at the top of the draft and could end up playing for the Buffalo Sabres and Arizona Coyotes, who meet at the First Niagara Center on Thursday night. Buffalo (20-46-7) has a league-low 47 points and Arizona (22-44-8) has 52, with the only thing on the line this season being draft position. That's pretty important with McDavid and Eichel - players seen by many as potential franchise cornerstones - being the consensus top picks." You don't need to be on Twitter to know that there's lots of excitement for McDavid or Eichel or that type of thing," Sabres center Cody Hodgson said. "But from the players' perspective, we just go out and play like we've been doing." These teams also meet Monday in Arizona, and there has been discussion in Buffalo about whether Sabres fans will even be rooting for their team Thursday. Coach Ted Nolan has addressed the situation with his club." These guys are all professional guys and nobody would want to go in and approach this game as like no other game," Nolan said. "You want to go in and do your best but the outside distractions are always going to be there." Buffalo fans were no doubt happy that Arizona ended a seven-game road slide and 0-7-1 overall losing streak with Tuesday's 5-4 overtime win over Detroit. Coach Dave Tippett insists his team has good reason to play hard." You got a lot of guys that are competing, they want jobs next year, they want to get noticed," Tippett said. "There's a lot of try in our group." Arizona will start the beleaguered Mike Smith or rookie Louis Domingue, who has never faced the Sabres. Smith's 37 regulation defeats are the most in the NHL since Marc Denis had 41 for Columbus in 2002-03. Smith made 33 saves Tuesday for his second victory in 17 starts. Mark Arcobello scored the winner.'' Smith had a real strong game in goal,'' Tippett said. ''For the most part, we competed hard and we hung around.'' Nolan plans to start winless Matt Hackett, who has posted a 4.33 goals-against average in three starts this season and is 2-16-1 with a 3.38 GAA in 19 career starts. Hackett has never started against the Coyotes. Buffalo may see two injured players return in winger Patrick Kaleta, who has sat out the last 18 games following knee surgery, and defenseman Zach Bogosian, who has missed the past six with a lower-body injury. The Sabres are 1-8-2 in their last 11 after dropping their third straight Monday, 4-3 at Dallas despite two goals from Brian Gionta. Buffalo has taken seven of its last eight against Arizona. Coyotes assistant general manager Darcy Regier, the Sabres' GM from 1997-2013, is expected to return to Buffalo for the first time since his dismissal.
Looking for More Picks?
You can browse all the individual handicapper picks below.
Arizona Coyotes
Buffalo Sabres
Pick Center
NHL
FINAL (3/26/2015)
TKWins
