Bruins at Sabres
The Boston Bruins look to end their five-game road trip with a winning record and reclaim second place in the Atlantic Division when they visit the Eastern Conference-worst Buffalo Sabres on Sunday. Boston is 2-2-0 on its trek after dropping a 4-3 decision in Toronto on Saturday that also put it one point behind the Maple Leafs in the division.
The Bruins have five games in hand on Toronto and three on Atlantic-leading Tampa Bay, which it trails by five points. Brad Marchand scored twice in the setback to increase his team-leading total to 57 points for Boston, which is wrapping up a stretch during which it plays eight of 10 on the road. Buffalo is coming off its fourth loss in five games (1-3-1), a 5-1 setback at Washington on Saturday. Sam Reinhart is riding a three-game point streak after scoring the Sabres' lone goal against the Capitals.
TV: 5 p.m. ET, Sportsnet360, NESN (Boston), MSG Buffalo
ABOUT THE BRUINS (37-14-8): Kevan Miller returned to action Saturday after missing nine games with an upper-body injury and was one of the club's best defensemen, recording a plus-2 rating and a game high-tying five blocked shots in 21 minutes, 50 seconds of ice time. The 30-year-old native of Los Angeles was in the lineup at the expense of Adam McQuaid, who finished with an even rating or better in eight of his last nine contests. Rookie Jake DeBrusk tallied against Toronto, ending his point and goal-scoring droughts at five and 11 games, respectively.
ABOUT THE SABRES (18-33-11): Evander Kane was kept out of the lineup on Saturday in anticipation of a deal prior to Monday's trade deadline and also is expected to be missing against Boston, assuming he's still with the team at gametime. "Management thought it was the best decision moving forward, and the best decision for Evander," coach Phil Housley told the team's website before the loss in Washington. The 26-year-old Kane, who is in his third season with Buffalo, ranks second on the club in goals (20) and third in points (40).
OVERTIME
1. Saturday's loss ended a six-game point streak on the road (5-0-1) for the Sabres - their longest since a seven-game run (6-0-1) from Feb. 8-March 6, 2011.
2. Boston can have identical home and away records of 19-7-4 with a victory on Sunday.
3. Buffalo C Zemgus Girgensons is mired in a five-game point drought, keeping him three shy of 100 for his career.