dailyloe.com – The Tampa Bay Lightning and Buffalo Sabres face off tonight in a highly anticipated rematch of their March 8th classic, a game crucial for Atlantic Division standings. The contest begins at 7 p.m. ET at Buffalo’s KeyBank Center. Media and fan excitement is palpable ahead of the clash.
Lightning coach Jon Cooper acknowledged the heightened atmosphere with a wry grin during his morning media availability. He joked about the large press turnout for game 77 of the season. The city of Buffalo is buzzing with anticipation for the rematch.
The previous meeting saw an extraordinary 15 total goals scored between the two rivals. The game also featured 28 penalties and 102 total penalty minutes. Ten fighting majors were handed out during the intense contest.
Lightning forward Brandon Hagel was fined $5,000 by the NHL for his role as an aggressor. The altercation involved Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin. The Sabres ultimately won that high-scoring affair 8-7.
Players from both teams described the March game as having a playoff atmosphere. They expect a similar, if not more intense, environment for this rematch. The stakes remain high for division positioning.
Sabres coach Lindy Ruff commented on the need to manage emotions. He stated it will be a tremendous game for sure. Ruff noted he would rather have his team energized than not.
The challenge will be living up to the significant pregame hype and chatter. Meeting such high expectations is notoriously difficult for any sporting event. Yet the potential for another classic remains undeniable.[]
Source: NHL.com
