Sabres at Islanders
The New York Islanders attempt to snap their three-game losing streak Saturday, when they welcome the Buffalo Sabres to what likely will be a sparsely filled Nassau Coliseum due to the snowstorm blanketing the Northeast. Since ending January with a 5-4 overtime victory over the Devils in New Jersey, New York has scored a total of three goals in losing three straight contests. The Islanders dropped a 4-1 road decision to the New York Rangers on Thursday, with John Tavares scoring his team-leading fifth goal.
Buffalo halted its own three-game skid Thursday with a 5-4 shootout triumph at home over the Montreal Canadiens. Thomas Vanek scored two goals in the third period - including the game-tying tally with two seconds remaining - to erase a 4-2 deficit and earn the Sabres a point. The 29-year-old Austrian overtook San Jose's Patrick Marleau for the league lead with 10 goals and increased his NHL-high point total to 21.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, MSG (Buffalo), MSG Plus (New York)
ABOUT THE SABRES (4-6-1): After Christian Ehrhoff returned from a one-game absence due to a strained muscle on Thursday, Buffalo could get two more defensemen back in the lineup this weekend. Andrej Sekera may play Saturday, while Robyn Regehr is aiming to play Sunday at home against the Boston Bruins. Sekera has missed three games with a bruised foot and Regehr five contests with a lower-body injury. Vanek's two-goal effort against the Canadiens was his fifth multi-point performance of the season and made him the ninth player in franchise history to record 20 points in a span of 10 games or less.
ABOUT THE ISLANDERS (4-5-1): Lubomir Visnovsky is expected to make his long-awaited debut with the Islanders on Saturday after being acquired from Anaheim in June. The defenseman, who originally attempted to get the trade voided, was suspended by the Isles for not reporting for the start of the season because of a family matter in his native Slovakia. "I'm ready to play," the 36-year-old told the team's website. "The big challenge for me is to help this team and show everybody that this is a playoff team." Center Josh Bailey also could make his season debut after being sidelined with a knee injury.
OVERTIME
1. The Islanders are just 1-3-0 at home thus far this season.
2. Prior to Thursday's victory, the Sabres had gone 1-6-1 in their previous eight games.
3. The road team has won five of the last seven meetings between the teams.
PREDICTION: Sabres 6, Islanders 2.