Game #23

Vancouver Canucks (11-7-3) vs. Buffalo Sabres (11-10-1)

Puck Drop: 3:00 PM EST | KeyBank Center | Buffalo, NY

TV: MSG

Know Your Opponent

Vancouver Canucks

Record: 11-7-3 | 25 PTS

Last Game: 5-4 loss to Pittsburgh

Division Ranking: 4th in Pacific

PP: 21.0%

PK: 79.4%

What to Watch

1. On A High Note

The Sabres’ winning streak may have ended on Wednesday night, but Buffalo still has an impressive record as of late. The team is 7-3-0 in its last ten games and has won four of its last six games. Heading into Friday’s game, the Sabres are fifth in the Atlantic Division and just five points out of the top of the division (Toronto).

2. The Leaders

Canucks captain Quinn Hughes is a leader both on and off the ice. He’s leading the team in offense from the blueline, with 23 points (5-18) in 21 games. Others to watch include forwards Conor Garland, Elias Pettersson and J.T. Miller. Garland has 18 points in 21 games, while Pettersson and Pius Suter lead the team with seven goals each.

The Sabres are led by Alex Tuch, who has 21 points (7-14) in 22 games this season. Captain Rasmus Dahlin has garnered 19 points (6-13) in 22 games, and Tage Thompson has averaged over a point-per-game, with 11 goals and seven assists in 17 games.

3. Back-to-Back

This afternoon’s game opens a back-to-back for the Sabres, who will then travel to face the New York Islanders on Saturday at 7:30 pm to close out a busy month of November. The Islanders will also be on a back-to-back as they visit the Washington Capitals this afternoon for a 3 p.m. puck drop.

Entering tonight, the Sabres are 7-5-0 in the month. Following Saturday’s game, the team has a couple days off before starting a five-game homestand that will see the Colorado Avalanche, Winnipeg Jets, Utah Hockey Club, Detroit Red Wings and New York Rangers come to town.

Projected Lineups

Buffalo Sabres

Forwards

JJ Peterka – Tage Thompson – Alex Tuch
Zach Benson – Dylan Cozens – Peyton Krebs
Jason Zucker – Jiri Kuylich – Jack Quinn
Beck Malenstyn – Ryan McLeod – Sam Lafferty

Defense

Bowen Byram – Rasmus Dahlin
Owen Power – Henri Jokiharju
Jacob Bryson – Connor Clifton

Goalies: Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, James Reimer

Vancouver Canucks

Forwards

Jake DeBrusk – Elias Pettersson – Kiefer Sherwood
Danton Heinen – Teddy Blueger – Brock Boeser
Dakota Joshua – Pius Suter – Conor Garland
Max Sasson – Aatu Raty – Nils Hoglander

Defense

Quinn Hughes – Filip Hronek
Erik Brannstrom – Tyler Myers
Carson Soucy – Noah Juulsen

Goalies: Arturs Silovs, Kevin Lankinen