Game Preview: O’Reilly returns to Buffalo for the first time since being traded

Sabres look to snap their seven-game losing streak when O’Reilly and the Blues visit

Game 72

Buffalo Sabres (30-32-9) vs. St. Louis Blues (37-27-7)

Puck Drop: 5:00 PM | KeyBank Center| Buffalo, NY

TV: MSG-B, FSCR

Radio: WGR 550

SB Nation Blues Blog: St. Louis Game Time

Know Your Opponent

St. Louis Blues

Record: (37-27-7) | 81 PTS

Last 10: 4-4-2

Division Ranking: 3rd in the Central Division

Conference Ranking: 6th in the Western Conference

PP: 13th (20.4%)

PK: 9th (81.3%)

What to Watch

1. The Return

Ryan O’Reilly makes his return to Buffalo tonight for the first time since being traded last summer. He’s having a great first season for the Blues that appear to be headed for a playoff berth. He should get a good reaction from fans, but we’ll see.

2. Heading in different directions.

The Blues are trending up and sit in a playoff position, a spot they were not in the last time these to clubs met. The Sabres, on the other hand, are riding a seven-game losing streak.

Buffalo Sabres

Forwards

Jeff Skinner - Jack Eichel - Sam Reinhart

Conor Sheary - Evan Rodrigues - Alex Nylander

Tage Thompson - Casey Mittelstadt - Jason Pominville

Zemgus Girgensons - Johan Larsson - Kyle Okposo

Defense

Rasmus Dahlin - Brandon Montour

Zach Bogosian - Rasmus Dahlin

Matt Hunwick - Casey Nelson

Starting Goaltender: Carter Hutton

St. Louis Blues

Forwards

Brayden Schenn - Ryan O’Reilly - David Perron

Jaden Schwartz - Tyler Bozak - Patrick Maroon

Alex Steen - Oskar Sundqvist - Robert Thomas

Zach Sanford - Ivan Barbashev - Mackenzie MaCeachrn

Defense

Vince Dunn - Alex Pietrangelo

Jay Bouwmeester - Colton Parayko

Michael Del Zotto - Robert Bortuzzo

Starting Goaltender: Jake Allen