Sabres at Penguins
The Buffalo Sabres are in the midst of their longest winning streak in over six years and largest 20-game point total since 2009-10 while the Pittsburgh Penguins have plummeted to the bottom of the Metropolitan Division following a dismal 1-7-1 stretch. The Sabres bid for their sixth straight victory on Monday when they visit the slumping Penguins, who are 3-5-1 at PPG Paints Arena.
"It goes to show we have a different group, a different mindset and a different attitude," Buffalo forward Jason Pominville told reporters after scoring the go-ahead goal with 90 seconds remaining in Saturday's 3-2 win over Minnesota. Captain Jack Eichel notched a pair of assists to move within one point of 200 for his career after collecting 17 (one goal, 16 assists) in his last 13 games. While the Sabres are enjoying their best run in ages, the Penguins dropped a 6-4 decision in Ottawa on Saturday and have been battered for 14 goals during their three-game losing streak. "We're in a deep hole, and we have to figure it out," said Pittsburgh defenseman Kris Letang, who will skate in his 700th NHL game on Monday. "We can't be sorry for ourselves. ... We have all the skill in the world, but right now it's not working."
TV: 7 p.m. ET, Sportsnet One, Sportsnet East, Sportsnet Pacific, MSG Buffalo, AT&T Sportsnet Pittsburgh
ABOUT THE SABRES (12-6-2): Jeff Skinner will look to rebound after seeing his four-game goal scoring streak come to a halt versus the Wild when he plays his 600th NHL contest on Monday. Conor Sheary joins defenseman Matt Hunwick in returning to the Steel City after being traded from the Penguins in June for a conditional fourth-round pick in the 2019 NHL Draft. "I don't really know what to expect," Sheary told the Buffalo News about his return. "Hopefully I can take the crowd and everything else out of it, play my game and not be nervous. I feel like it's going to be my first game again for some reason. We'll see what happens."
ABOUT THE PENGUINS (7-8-3): Two-time Stanley Cup-winning goaltender Matt Murray's disastrous season continued on Saturday as he allowed three goals on 10 shots in the first period before being replaced by Casey DeSmith to start the second. "(Murray is) a proud guy and he wants to do well," coach Mike Sullivan told reporters. "Sometimes when you get in these types of circumstances, sometimes you can try a little too hard and then it gets in the way of your instinctual play. There's always that fine line of trying, but making sure you don't try too hard, because that can be counterproductive." The 24-year-old Murray, who owns a 3-0-0 career mark versus Buffalo, has yielded 22 goals on 129 shots in his last six appearances overall dating back to a 6-3 setback versus the New York Islanders on Oct. 30.
OVERTIME
1. Pittsburgh C Evgeni Malkin has set up a pair of goals in back-to-back games to boost his team-leading totals in assists (18) and points (25).
2. Buffalo G Carter Hutton has turned aside 95 of 100 shots over his last four appearances.
3. Penguins RW Patric Hornqvist has scored three goals and set up three others in his last three encounters with the Sabres.