Hurricanes at Sabres
The Buffalo Sabres are coming off back-to-back shootout losses on the road, but they get a chance to avenge one of those defeats when they host the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday night. Five of Buffalo's last seven games have gone beyond regulation, including a 2-1 setback on Carolina on Saturday that snapped the Sabres' four-game winning streak in the series.
Buffalo also lost in the bonus format at Florida 4-3 on Tuesday after surrendering the tying goal with just under four minutes left in regulation. “We need every point we can possibly get in this fight and this battle,” Sabres coach Dan Bylsma said. “We gave up one, and we gave up one to a team we’re below in the standings." The Hurricanes improved to 8-0-1 over their last nine home games by beating Buffalo, but their chance to extend the streak was delayed when an equipment snafu forced a postponement of Monday's game against Detroit due to unplayable ice conditions. "We were ready, we wanted to play," Carolina coach Bill Peters said at Wednesday's practice.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, FSN Carolina, MSG-B (Buffalo)
ABOUT THE HURRICANES (13-11-7): Veteran forward Lee Stempniak, who grew up just outside Buffalo, helped burn the Sabres by scoring in the shootout in Carolina. Stempniak, who told the News & Observer of Raleigh that he has a "soft spot" for the city, was mired in a 22-game goalless drought before scoring twice and adding the shootout tally over the past four games. Forward Jeff Skinner, who leads the Hurricanes in goals (12) and points (26), has scored eight times in 19 games against the Sabres.
ABOUT THE SABRES (12-11-8): No. 1 netminder Robin Lehner has surrendered 12 goals and lost all three career starts against Carolina, so Anders Nilsson could face the Hurricanes for the second time in six days. Defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen, the No. 8 overall draft pick in 2013, is on a tear, notching all three of his goals in the past six games while registering 14 points over the past 10 contests. Ristolainen has been held in check by the Hurricanes, however, managing one assist in seven career matchups.
OVERTIME
1. Buffalo has killed off 9 of 16 penalties in the past seven games.
2. Carolina's Eddie Lack was activated off injured reserve and fellow G Michael Leighton was sent back to the minors.
3. Lehner has failed to stop any of the six shootout attempts against him in three games this season.