20210318 Sharpen Up Mediawall

UPDATE (1:30 p.m.) -After further testing and contact tracing, as of now, tonight's game against the Boston Bruins will go on as scheduled.
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UPDATE (9:23 a.m.) -Today's morning skate has been canceled due to a member of the team's hockey staff entering the league's COVID Protocol. Further details regarding today's schedule will be communicated later today.
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The Buffalo Sabres will have a new coach behind the bench tonight when they take on the Boston Bruins at KeyBank Center.
Don Granato, formerly an assistant coach, is the team's new interim head coach. Head coach Ralph Krueger and assistant coach Steve Smith were relieved of their coaching duties yesterday morning.
Granato's coaching career spans nearly three decades. Learn more about him here.Director of player development Matt Ellis and player development coach Dan Girardi will serve as interim assistant coaches.
So it's the chance for a fresh start and the opportunity to find a spark. Buffalo is looking to snap a 12-game winless streak. They're 0-10-2 over that stretch.
It's also Hockey Fights Cancer Night and the team will welcome over 700 frontline workers and guests from Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center to the game in recognition of their contributions and dedication to our community.
Stick around for morning skate coverage today, including Granato's first press conference.
Pregame coverage on MSG begins at 6:30 p.m. Faceoff is at 7 on MSG and WGR 550.
Here's what you need to know.

More on the coaching changes

General manager Kevyn Adams held a video call with the media shortly after yesterday's announcement.
Adams said there will be an honest conversation had when the team returns to KeyBank Center for its game against the Boston Bruins on Thursday.
Regardless of the standings, pride should be evident in the Sabres' play moving forward.
"To love, to look around the city of Buffalo and see Sabres hats and signs and people wearing jerseys - that matters," Adams said.
"That has to be within the DNA of our team. I don't care where we are in the standings right now. If we do not show up at the rink tomorrow and for the rest of that season and have that characteristic about our team, it's going to be unacceptable."
Catch all the highlights here.

KEVYN ADAMS

"We have to be better in every single area of this organization," Adams said. "It starts with me. I need to manage better, OK? I need to be better in every way. We need to coach better, we need to scout better, we need to develop players better. We need to practice better. I mean, you name it, we need to do it better. Period.
"I said it a couple weeks ago, it's unacceptable in every area. So, why do we do it? Well, we're doing it because we feel we have to start to improve. Of course, results matter. This is a results business and where we are is unacceptable, it speaks for itself. But it's deeper than that. To change the culture and to do what we have to do to get this headed in the right direction, I felt this was the move that we had to make."
Read more here.

Tonight's matchup

20210318 Bruins Sabres Game Night Mediawall Hockey Fights Cancer Lavender Roswell

Boston is in fourth place in the East Division with 34 points and a 15-8-4 record. They've lost nine of their last 13 games.
Rookie goaltender Daniel Vladar made his NHL debut on Tuesday in a 2-1 win over Pittsburgh. Brad Marchand leads the team with 33 points (12+21) this season.
From @SabresPR's Game Notes:

Hockey Fights Cancer Night info

Sabres surprise Roswell Park patients with jerseys

In partnership with Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, the team will host its Hockey Fights Cancer Night tonight.
Over 700 frontline workers and guests from Roswell Park have been invited to the game. They will be the first fans in attendance at KeyBank Center for a Sabres game this season.
The Sabres will honor the frontline workers during the game on the video board to thank them for their contributions to the community. Each frontline worker and guest in attendance will receive a commemorative Hockey Fights Cancer scarf.
As part of an NHL-wide Hockey Fights Cancer initiative to raise money and awareness for cancer research, the Sabres will host fundraising events throughout the evening on the Sabres broadcast and the team's social media platforms.
In addition, for a donation of at least $50 to Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, fans will receive an autographed Sabres Hockey Fights Cancer mini helmet. All proceeds from all fundraising efforts will be donated to Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Sabres fill out 'I Fight For' placards

To commemorate the night, all Sabres players will wear lavender Hockey Fights Cancer jerseys and use sticks with lavender tape during warmups. Sabres coaches and broadcasters will be wearing commemorative Hockey Fights Cancer pocket squares. The jerseys will be auctioned off at Sabres.com/Auctions immediately following the game.
Earlier in March, three Sabres players surprised Roswell Park cancer patients with video messages and signed jerseys.
Sabres broadcasters Martin Biron and Brian Duff also welcomed cancer survivor and elementary school teacher Mary Guevara and her family to KeyBank Center for a ceremonial puck drop, which will be broadcast prior to the start of the game.
An online auction featuring Sabres autographed merchandise and unique experiences will run this week at Sabres.com/Auctions. This auction will start on Thursday, March 18 at 7 p.m. and close on Sunday, March 28 at 9 p.m., with all proceeds benefitting Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center.
For more information, fans can visit Sabres.com/HockeyFightsCancer.

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