NHL Network and ESPN analyst Kevin Weekes will offer his thoughts for big games each week throughout the season.
The Chicago Blackhawks (13-29-2) visit the Buffalo Sabres (19-21-4) at KeyBank Center on Wednesday (7:30 p.m. ET; MAX, TNT, MSG-B). The Blackhawks are still in a rebuild despite selecting forward Connor Bedard, who is out with a fractured jaw, with the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NHL Draft. The Sabres have struggled to find consistency in their hopes to end a 12-year Stanley Cup Playoff drought.
Here's my breakdown of the game.
Blackhawks
Pluses: Although Nick Foligno is sidelined with an injured finger, the 36-year-old forward is having a great season with 17 points (eight goals, nine assists), including five on the power play, in 39 games. Foligno and Jason Dickinson, a 28-year-old forward, each signed a multiyear contract with Chicago in the past week. Having two veterans who believe in the direction of the team says a lot. I know Petr Mrazek's record isn't great (11-16-1) but he has played very well (3.04 goals-against average, .907 save percentage, one shutout) considering their offensive and defensive shortcomings.
Minuses: Losing Bedard, who is leading rookies in goals (15) and points (33), for 6-8 weeks obviously removes a key part of their lineup. He's one of seven rookies to play at least one game for the Blackhawks this season, including five who have played at least 20. Chicago defeated the San Jose Sharks 2-1 in a shootout Tuesday but has scored four regulation goals in its past four games. The Blackhawks rank 31st in goals per game (2.23) and have allowed the fourth-most goals per game (3.59). They are 31st on the power play (13.1 percent) and 27th on the penalty kill (75.7 percent).
Sabres
Pluses: Tage Thompson had 47 goals and 47 assists last season. His numbers aren't as good this season (14 goals, 27 points) but he is still one of the most exciting players to watch. The Sabres have six players with at least 12 goals and seven with at least 22 points. Buffalo also has two defensemen who were taken No. 1 in the NHL Draft, Rasmus Dahlin (2018) and Owen Power (2021), who are likely to be the cornerstones of the team for the next decade or so. The Sabres definitely have the talent, including goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, who is 4-1-0 with a 1.40 GAA and .950 save percentage in his past five starts.
Minuses: The Sabres have not won three straight games all season and have won two in a row twice. It seems as if they took a step backwards from last season when they finished one point out of a playoff spot. Right now, they are seven points out of the second wild card from the Eastern Conference and have more than a handful of teams in front of them. They're also without forward Jeff Skinner, their leading goal-scorer (17) and third on the Sabres with 33 points but week to week with an upper-body injury. I know both teams are struggling, but this is a game the Sabres must win if they're going to make a push up the standings.
