NHL Game Preview: Buffalo Sabres at Minnesota Wild with Line Combinations 3/22/2025

Buffalo Sabres at Minnesota Wild
Venue: Xcel Energy Center
Date: Today – Saturday, March 22
Time: 2:00 pm EST

TV: ESPN+ / FDSNNO / MSG-B / FDSNWI
Radio:
Buffalo – 550 WGR
Minnesota Wild – KFAN 100.3 FM

DraftKings Sportsbook Betting Lines:
Buffalo +1.5 ML -218
Minnesota -1.5 ML +180
O/U 5.5

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Buffalo Sabres Notes:

If scoring an own goal to lose the game to the Utah Hockey Club doesn’t describe the Sabres’ season so far, I don’t know what does. Buffalo currently holds the fourth-best 2025 NHL Draft odds, and that could be up for grabs with the way Buffalo has played recently. With a 3-2 record in the last five games, this Sabres roster is hungry for success.

Minnesota Wild Notes:

Minnesota is battling to keep pace in the Wild Card standings, six points ahead of the St. Louis Blues. The Wild look would be destined for the Vegas Golden Knights in the first round of the playoffs if the standings stayed the same.

Buffalo Sabres Lineup:

Greenway-Thompson-Tuch
Benson-McLeod-Zucker
Murray-Krebs-Quinn
Malenstyn-Kozak-Lafferty

Samuelsson-Dahlin
Power-Byram
Clifton-Bryson

Luukkonen
Reimer

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Buffalo Hockey – Inside The Rink

Minnesota Wild Lineup:

Nyquist-Rossi-Boldy
Johansson-Gaudreau-Zuccarello
Trenin-Hartman-Hinostroza
Shore-Gaunce-Brazeau

Middleton-Faber
Chisholm-Spurgeon
Merrill-Bogosian

Gustavsson
Fleury

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Players To Watch:

Buffalo Sabres

Tage Thompson is carrying the load offensively for Buffalo, with three goals, six points in the last five games, and 60 points on the year.

Minnesota Wild

Matt Boldy has been consistent for the Wild this season, and the production hasn’t dropped after the Four Nations tournament. Boldy has 10 points since playing for Team USA.

Injury Report:

Buffalo Sabres

LW Zach Benson – Game Time Decision
C Josh Norris – Day to day
C Jiri Kulich – Day to day

Minnesota Wild

LW Kirill Kaprizov – Week to week
C Joel Eriksson Ek – Week to week
D Jonas Brodin – Week to week
LW Marcus Foligno – Day to day

Next Game:

Buffalo Sabres – March 23 at Winnipeg Jets
Minnesota Wild – March 24 at Dallas Stars

ITR 30: Down The Stretch – Inside The Rink

Join Conrad and Chris as they discuss the NHL General Managers Meetings, Connor Bedard's antics, Mikko Rantanen returning to Colorado, Gabriel Landeskog resumes skating with the team, Ovechkin's Gr8 Chase, and NHL Playoff updates.

1. ITR 30: Down The Stretch 59:42
2. ITR 29: Trade Deadline Review 01:02:40
3. ITR 28: Deadline Week 44:07
4. ITR 27: Trade Season Begins 01:07:33
5. ITR 26: 2 Nations Fighting 42:17