Preview: Sabres host Flyers in matinee

Game 30

Buffalo Sabres (17-8-4) vs Philadelphia Flyers (11-12-3)

Puck Drop: 1:00 PM | Keybank Center | Buffalo, NY

TV: MSG-B

Radio: WGR 550

SB Nation Flyers blog:

Know Your Opponent

Philadelphia Flyers

Record: (11-12-3) | 25 PTS

Last 10: 3-5-2

Division Ranking: 7th in the Metropolitan Division

Conference Ranking: 15th in the Eastern Conference

PP: 28th (14.5%)

PK: 30th (72.9%)

What to Watch

1. Ullmark’s opportunity

The Sabres announced Friday that Carter Hutton is day-to-day with an upper body injury. As a result, he isn’t expected to suit up on Saturday, and the team recalled Scott Wedgewood from the AHL’s Rochester Americans to serve as backup for Linus Ullmark.

With Hutton out, at least for the time being, it’s Ullmark’s crease and his chance to really step up and show what he can do. So far this season, Ullmark has appeared in nine games, all of which he started. He’s won five of those and has a .921 save percentage and 2.71 GAA.

2. Injury updates

Missing from practice Friday: Jack Eichel, Zach Bogosian and Hutton, all given maintenance days. Jake McCabe and Casey Nelson are considered week-to-week. Matt Hunwick is closer to finally making his Buffalo Sabres debut, but is still day-to-day. As a result, the Sabres also called up Matt Tennyson from Rochester.

3. A few days of rest

The Sabres have had a busy schedule as of late, but following their last game against Toronto, they had a few days off prior to this afternoon’s game. After today, the Sabres’ next game is Tuesday as they host the Los Angeles Kings.

Buffalo Sabres

Forwards

Jeff Skinner - Jack Eichel - Sam Reinhart

Conor Sheary - Casey Mittelstadt - Jason Pominville

Vladimir Sobotka - Evan Rodrigues - Kyle Okposo

Tage Thompson - Johan Larsson - Patrik Berglund

Defense

Rasmus Dahlin - Zach Bogosian

Lawrence Pilut - Rasmus Ristolainen

Nathan Beaulieu - Matt Tennyson

Starting Goaltender: Linus Ullmark

Philadelphia Flyers*

The Flyers recalled forward (and former Sabres/Amerks player) Phil Varone from the AHL Friday night. He’s expected to play Saturday, but it wasn’t immediately clear on which line.

Forwards

Claude Giroux - Sean Couturier - Travis Konecny

James van Riemsdyk - Nolan Patrick - Wayne Simmonds

Michael Raffl - Scott Laughton - Jakub Voracek

Oskar Lindblom - Jori Lehterä - Dale Weise

Defense

Ivan Provorov - Shayne Gostisbehere

Robert Hägg - Andrew MacDonald

Travis Sanheim - Radko Gudas

Starting Goaltender: Anthony Stolarz