Blackhawks at Sabres

The Blackhawks are fourth in the Western Conference, with a 0-1-0 record and 83 games left. They are in a playoff spot at the start of the season, with the cutoff also at 0 points. The Sabres’ standings position is not available, so the early race is clearer for Chicago than for Buffalo.

Buffalo is 2-2-1 in its last five games and has five points in that span. Tage Thompson leads the Sabres with three goals, while Rasmus Dahlin has seven assists. Chicago is 1-4-0 over its last five and has two points. Ryan Greene also has three goals, and Connor Bedard has three assists. Bedard is listed out with a shoulder injury.

The recent series has strongly favored Buffalo. The Sabres have won all five of the last five meetings, earning 10 points. Chicago has lost each of those games and has no points in the matchup. That record gives Buffalo a clear history advantage, even with both teams still early in the season.

The edge belongs to the Sabres. Their 2-2-1 stretch is better than Chicago’s 1-4-0 record, and they have controlled this matchup. Thompson’s three goals and Dahlin’s seven assists also give Buffalo two productive players to watch. Chicago needs a better defensive effort to change the pattern.