Sabres at Avalanche
The Colorado Avalanche were as far removed from the playoffs as a team could be last season, but give forward Mikko Rantanen credit for keeping his eyes on the prize this time around. With his team struggling, Rantanen raised the bar with his comments as the Avalanche conclude their five-game homestand against the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday.
"I think you have to look at it like a must-win; it's like a playoff game for us,” Rantanen said. "It's a five-game homestand, we are 1-3 right now. We have to win the last game. Everybody needs to get ready and make sure we are out battling the opponent on (Tuesday)." The 21-year-old Finn has come to play at Pepsi Center, scoring a goal in Sunday's 7-2 loss to Dallas to give him 17 of his 21 points at home. Buffalo hasn't been picking up many points of late, losing for the fourth consecutive time and 11th in 12 outings with a 5-1 setback to Pittsburgh on Saturday. Jason Pominville scored the Sabres' first goal since Nov. 24 and his first since Oct. 28 in the loss to the Penguins.
TV: 9 p.m. ET, MSG-B (Buffalo), Altitude (Colorado)
ABOUT THE SABRES (6-17-4): Buffalo placed Matt Moulson on waivers Monday, with the struggling forward to be assigned to Rochester of the American Hockey League should he go unclaimed. "We talked quite a bit throughout the last two weeks," coach Phil Housley told The Buffalo News on Monday. "Just the direction that our team's going, we have to make roster spots and try to push some other buttons and try to get some internal competition within our team." The Sabres didn't stand pat on just that one move as they reached out to the Americans and recalled forward Evan Rodrigues, who has five goals and as many assists in eight games.
ABOUT THE AVALANCHE (12-11-2): Colin Wilson is expected to return to the lineup following a three-game absence with a lower-body injury, coach Jared Bednar said after Monday's practice. "I like to get him in the lineup more so we can keep building and getting a little more offense out of him," Bednar said. "It's hard to count on him to do that when he is in and out with these nagging injuries all the time. I think the best has yet to come for Wilson, but I really like what he's been doing for our team." Patrik Nemeth, who was also a full-time participant in Monday's practice, is expected to return from a lengthy absence due to an unspecified lower-body injury during the team's upcoming four-game road trip.
OVERTIME
1. Buffalo C Sam Reinhart scored in both encounters versus Colorado last season, but has been held off the scoresheet in each of his last five games overall.
2. Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog will serve the final contest of his four-game suspension on Tuesday.
3. The Sabres rank last in the league in goals scored (2.1) and goals against (3.4) while their power-play efficiency (11.6) is 30th in the NHL.