from Kevin Allen of Detroit Hockey Now,

The “beat Buffalo” challenge comes with a side order of payback. One month ago, the Sabres put an 8-3 beating on the Red Wings. Tage Thompson enjoyed a six-point night against the Red Wings’ defense and goalie Alex Nedeljkovic. Lalonde has already announced Nedeljkovic will start tonight.

The Sabres’ lopsided win over the Red Wings on Halloween night was part of a better-than-expected 7-3 start. The Sabres are a different team today. Since that good start, the Sabres are 2-10.

But their offensive might still makes them dangerous. They rank fifth in the NHL with a 3.68 goals-per-game scoring average. However, the impact of their scoring prowess is undermined by a 3.59 goals-against-average.

The 6-foot-7 Thompson is still thriving, boasting six points in his past four games. He has 14 goals and 14 assists for 28 points in 22 games. The Sabres do have a quality power play (25.6%) and one of the NHL’s worst penalty killing efficiencies (70.4%).

We can guess Nedeljkovic, looking sharp in his relief role Monday, will be extra motivated tonight. That game is the primary reason why his GAA stands at 4.01.

more