Flames at Sabres
The Calgary Flames have remained in the postseason chase mainly on the strength of their superb play away from home, but that success has diminished over the past two weeks and so has the team's playoff chances. Calgary looks to end a four-game losing streak (0-3-1) when it resumes a three-game road trip at the Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday night.
The Flames erased an early two-goal deficit before falling in overtime at two-time reigning Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh on Monday, but coach Glen Gulutzan called the performance -- and salvaging one point -- a "building block." Calgary has dropped three straight away from home to tumble into fifth place in the Pacific Division and 11th in the Western Conference with 15 games remaining. The Sabres are mired in last place in the East but have won three of their last four, knocking off the top three teams in the Atlantic Division in that span. "It's tough for us to go through this last little bit, but we're trying to build something," Buffalo forward Sam Reinhart said. "We're trying to improve and keep this consistent play going."
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, Sportsnet West (Calgary), MSG-Buffalo
ABOUT THE FLAMES (32-25-10): Calgary has dropped nine of 11 since an injury to starting netminder Mike Smith, who was on the ice for the first time Tuesday since he was hurt. Smith was unable to provide his timetable to return to the lineup and will remain a spectator as the Flames go with the rookie tandem of David Rittich and Jon Gillies. “Listen, I’m the first one to tell you I want to be back in there tomorrow," Smith said. "But I think I need some time to get with the team, practicing, up to speed here. I’ll know when the time is right.”
ABOUT THE SABRES (21-34-11): Reinhart was one of four Buffalo players with a goal and an assist in Monday's 5-3 over Toronto as he continued his second-half revival. Since returning from the team's bye week in mid-January, Reinhart has amassed 23 points in 22 games after collecting 13 through the first 44 contests. "I'm just moving my feet, holding onto the puck," Reinhart said. "Just playing naturally. I think I use my knowledge of the game to my advantage but when I overthink things, it doesn't go too well for me or doesn't go as well for me."
OVERTIME
1. Calgary is 0-for-16 on the power play during the four-game skid.
2. Sabres C Kyle Criscuolo (upper body) will miss four to six weeks after he was hurt in Monday's game.
3. The Flames have lost 15 of their last 22 games (7-9-6), including a 2-1 home loss to Buffalo on Jan. 22.