Red Wings at Sabres
Not much has gone right this season for both the Detroit Red Wings and Buffalo Sabres, who have been out of the playoff picture and playing out the string for weeks. However, each team will be looking to post consecutive victories for the first time in over a month when they square off in Buffalo on Thursday night.
The Sabres had scored only two goals during a four-game slide before snapping Toronto's 13-game home winning streak with a 3-2 victory on Monday. They were shut out twice at home as part of that skid, but have won five of the last six meetings versus Detroit -- with each victory coming by one goal. The Red Wings had dropped 13 of 14 (1-12-1) before knocking off two-time reigning Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh on Tuesday. It marked Detroit's first regulation win since Feb. 24, which was followed up with a victory 24 hours later -- the last time the team won back-to-back games.
TV: 7 p.m. ET; FS Detroit Plus, MSG-Buffalo
ABOUT THE RED WINGS (28-38-11): Veteran defenseman Niklas Kronwall scored a goal Tuesday for his 400th career point, but rookie blue-liner Joe Hicketts had a noteworthy night in his own right. Appearing in his second NHL game, Hicketts collected his first career points with a pair of assists. "He doesn't look like a normal NHL defenseman with his size, skating combo," coach Jeff Blashill said of the 5-foot-8 Hicketts. "He's been able to defy odds. Can he keep defying odds? We'll see."
ABOUT THE SABRES (24-40-12): Jack Eichel had one assist in his first five games since returning from a five-week absence due to an ankle injury, but he broke through with a pair of goals against Toronto, including the deciding tally. Buffalo will get a glimpse at another elite young talent when 2017 first-round pick Casey Mittelstadt makes his NHL debut Thursday. Mittelstadt, who finished his season at Minnesota earlier this month, will center a line with Sam Reinhart and Evan Rodrigues.
OVERTIME
1. Eichel has four goals and seven points in 10 games versus Detroit.
2. Red Wings C Luke Glendening scored twice Tuesday to move within one of matching his career-best 12 goals in 2014-15.
3. Buffalo has allowed five power-play goals in the past four games.