Buffalo Sabres (25-33-6) vs. Vegas Golden Knights (39-19-7)
Puck Drop: 7:00 PM EDT | KeyBank Center | Buffalo, NY
TV: ESPN+, Hulu
Radio: WGR 550
Know Your Opponent
Edmonton Oilers
Record: 27-13-3 | 57 PTS
Division Ranking: 2nd in the Pacific
Last Game: 5-4 win over Dallas
PP: 26.6% (5th) – (Sabres 16.8%, 27th)
PK: 74.8% (26th) (Sabres 76.9%, 22nd)
What To Watch
1. Skinner’s Return
Jeff Skinner returns to the Oilers’ lineup and to Buffalo tonight. Though this isn’t the first time Skinner has faced the Sabres since being bought out, it is his first return to the 716 since then. He had one goal in last month’s game against the Sabres. Overall, Skinner has appeared in 53 games this season and has 21 points, including 11 goals. He’s been a healthy scratch for a handful of games.
And of course, he won’t be the only Skinner in the lineup, as Stuart Skinner (no relation) will get the start in goal for the Oilers. Skinner is 22-15-4 this season with a 2.87 GAA and .897 save percentage.
2. Zucker is Back
Jason Zucker is poised to return to the Sabres’ lineup this evening, providing a much-needed boost for the team. Zucker is fresh off signing his contract extension last week and spoke to the media about the new deal on Monday.
Zucker had missed a handful of games while dealing with a lower-body injury. He has 44 points, including 26 assists, in 54 games this season.
3. End the Streak
The Sabres are currently riding a six-game losing skid, with their last win coming back on February 25. Meanwhile, the Oilers come into tonight’s game on a two-game winning streak and having won three of their last four games, but they also recently had a five-game losing skid of their own.
That said, the Oilers are currently in a playoff position – second in the Pacific – and are undoubtedly looking to finish out their last 19 games of the regular season strong to clinch a spot in the postseason.
Playoffs are a pipe dream for the Sabres right now, as the team sits 30th in the league, last in the Eastern Conference and 15 points out of a wild card spot.
Projected Lineups
Buffalo Sabres
Forwards
J.J. Peterka – Josh Norris – Tage Thompson
Jason Zucker – Ryan McLeod – Alex Tuch
Zach Benson – Peyton Krebs – Jack Quinn
Beck Malenstyn – Sam Lafferty – Jordan Greenway (GTD)*
* If Greenway can’t go, Josh Dunne is likely to rotate in.
Defense
Mattias Samuelsson – Rasmus Dahlin
Bowen Byram – Jacob Bryson
Owen Power – Connor Clifton
Goaltenders
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (expected), James Reimer
Edmonton Oilers
Forwards
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins – Connor McDavid – Zach Hyman
Podkolzin – Draisaitl – Arvidsson
Jeff Skinner – Janmark – Brown
Jones – Henrique – Perry
Defense
Walman – Bouchard
Nurse – Stecher
Kulak – Emberson
Goaltenders
Stuart Skinner (expected), Calvin Pickard