It’s a Buffalo Sabres game night.
The Sabres will face the Pittsburgh Penguins again tonight. It’s a 7 p.m. faceoff from KeyBank Center. Catch the action on MSG and WGR 550. Pregame coverage on MSG begins at 6:30.
Buffalo is looking for its first win in nine games. They’re currently in an 0-7-2 skid.
Carter Hutton will start in goal and has had some success against the Penguins in his career. We have more stats and info for you coming up here in Sharpen Up, including a recap of yesterday’s practice.
Here’s what you need to know.
What happened yesterday
Video: Friday’s Sabres Practice Report
The Sabres took the ice for practice at KeyBank Center. Dylan Cozens and Rasmus Ristolainen, however, were absent for the skate. We have full details in our Practice Report. https://www.nhl.com/sabres/news/buffalo-sabres-dylan-cozens-injury-update-practice/c-322431460
Cozens is currently considered day-to-day with an upper-body injury, coach Ralph Krueger announced. The rookie forward was hit hard into the boards early in the third period of Thursday’s game against Pittsburgh and had to leave the contest.
“There are tests and evaluations going on today and we’ll keep you posted,” Krueger said.
Riley Sheahan stepped in and moved to center that line, which includes Sam Reinhart and Taylor Hall, for much of the remainder of that game. Sheahan practiced with them as well on Friday.
The team is also without Jack Eichel for at least a week due to an upper-body injury of his own. And with the Rochester Americans dealing with a COVID case on their roster, the Sabres are currently unable to recall any players from the AHL.
“They’re going through the same protocol that we did here just, you know, we hope it doesn’t affect the whole team,” Krueger said.
Video: Ralph Krueger after Friday’s practice
Here’s how Buffalo lined up at practice:
13 Tobias Rieder – 12 Eric Staal – 68 Victor Olofsson
4 Taylor Hall – 15 Riley Sheahan – 23 Sam Reinhart
53 Jeff Skinner – 27 Curtis Lazar – 37 Casey Mittelstadt
72 Tage Thompson – 20 Cody Eakin – 21 Kyle Okposo
Rotating in: 49 C.J. Smith, 74 Rasmus Asplund
Defensemen (rotating pairs): 10 Henri Jokiharju, 26 Rasmus Dahlin, 33 Colin Miller, 62 Brandon Montour, 78 Jacob Bryson, 88 Brandon Davidson
Goalies:
40 Carter Hutton
34 Jonas Johansson
31 Dustin Tokarski
Check out the Practice Report for more.
Tonight’s matchup
From the Game Notes, courtesy of @SabresPR…
- The Sabres have gone 2-1-0 in each of the last two seasons against the Penguins, winning consecutive season series against Pittsburgh for the first time since 2005-06 and 2006-07.
- If Buffalo wins this year’s series, it would be the first time it has won three consecutive season series against Pittsburgh since 1979-80 to 1981-82.
- The last six meetings between the Sabres and Penguins have been won by the team who scored first.
- Carter Hutton is 5-1-0 with two shutouts and a .940 save percentage in his eight career appearances against Pittsburgh.
- Rasmus Dahlin has three points (1+2) in his last four games against the Penguins.
- Taylor Hall has recorded 23 points (9+14) in 19 career meetings with Pittsburgh, including four multi-point outings.
- Colin Miller has posted three assists and a plus-4 rating in his last four meetings with Pittsburgh.
- Casey Mittelstadt has three points (1+2) in five career games against the Penguins.
- Sam Reinhart has recorded 10 points (3+7) in his last 12 games against Pittsburgh.
- Eric Staal has 55 points (23+33) in 58 career contests against the Penguins, including 10 (4+6) in his last 10.
Today in Sabres history
1991: The Sabres top the Winnipeg Jets 6-2 on the strength of a Dale Hawerchuk hat trick and a 37-save performance by Clint Malarchuk.
A Hawerchuk puzzle is available as part of this month’s Game Night to Go bundle, whose proceeds will support Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center.