Buffalo Sabres Host Kane-less Blackhawks

Coming off Wednesday’s 4-3 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Buffalo Sabres host the Chicago Blackhawks Friday in the second of two meetings between the teams this season.

In the last meeting between the Sabres and Blackhawks, Chicago defeated Buffalo by a score of 6-2 in the second game of the season.

Heading into tonight’s game, the Sabres are coming off Wednesday’s win, while the Blackhawks are riding a three-game winning streak. They’ve won three straight dating back to March 28, defeating Winnipeg, Los Angeles and Vancouver.

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But one advantage the Sabres have heading into this evening’s game: Thursday was a day off for the team. Chicago, on the other hand, faced the Canucks before heading to Buffalo for tonight’s game.

For the Sabres tonight, it’ll once again be Anders Lindback in net, though head coach Ted Nolan did say that it’s possible that Andrey Makarov could see his first NHL action on Saturday. Matt Hackett didn’t participate in morning skate.

Also absent from morning skate were Matt Moulson and Mike Weber. It’s unknown at this point whether they’re be in for tonight’s game or if the team will need to recall a player from the AHL.

The Rochester Americans are in Iowa for a game tonight.

Tonight’s game opens up Buffalo’s 18th of 19 sets of back-to-back games this season.

The Blackhawks come into Buffalo off the heels of last night’s win, which saw them clinch a playoff spot. The Hawks sit fourth in the Western Conference with a record of 47-24-6 and 100 points. The Hawks are 23-14-1 on the road this season and overall are 7-3-0 in their last ten games.

The Sabres continue to sit in the basement of the Eastern Conference with a record of 22-47-8 and 52 points. The Sabres are 3-5-2 in their last ten games.

Players to watch tonight for the Buffalo Sabres include captain Brian Gionta, who has put up 11 points in his last nine games.

Zac Dalpe is on a three-game point streak heading into tonight’s game. He scored his first goal as a member of the Buffalo Sabres organization in Wednesday’s win over Toronto.

Johan Larsson is another player to watch, after he recorded 10 points (3-7) in 14 games in the month of March.

It’s expected that Rasmus Ristolainen will be ready to return to the lineup tonight, but the Sabres still have a host of players out, including Josh Gorges, Zemgus Girgensons, Jerry D’Amigo and Matt Hackett.

For the Blackhawks, the most obvious piece missing from the lineup tonight is Buffalo native Patrick Kane.

Kane returned to practice (non-contact) this week, but is still expected to be out for another seven weeks. He did travel with the team to Buffalo, but (of course) will not be in the lineup in front of his family and friends tonight.

An amazing stat heading into tonight’s game: Despite playing only 61 games this season, Kane is still tied for the team lead in points, with 64 on the season. He has a team-high 27 goals, too.

Tied with Kane in points is Hawks captain Jonathan Toews, who has recored 64 points, including a team-high 38 assists, in 77 games.

Right winger Marian Hossa has 58 points (22-36) this season, while left winger Brandon Saad has recored 49 points (22-27) in 77 games.

Together, Toews, Hossa and Saad have 44 power-play points, so the Sabres will have to contain those players on the man advantage if they hope to come out of tonight’s game victorious.

Puck drop tonight at First Niagara Center is set for 7 p.m. as the Sabres and Blackhawks face off for the second and final time this season.

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