Game 69

Buffalo Sabres (30-29-9) vs. Dallas Stars (35-28-5)

Puck Drop: 7:00 PM | Key Bank Center | Buffalo, NY

TV: FSW+, MSG-B

Radio: WGR 550

SB Nation Stars Blog: Defending Big D

Know Your Opponent

Dallas Stars

Record: (35-28-5)

Last 10: (6-4-0)

Division Ranking: 4th in the Central Division

Conference Ranking: 7th in the Western Conference

PP: 16th (19.5%)

PK: 6th (82.4%)

What to Watch

1. Captain Jack is out for two games

Adding insult to injury (no pun intended), the Sabres will add to their struggles as they will need to play without their captain for the next two games. Jack Eichel has been suspended for an illegal head check to Carl Soderberg of the Colorado Avalanche. Buffalo faced Colorado this past Saturday and suffered another loss, making it four in a row for the previously hopeful playoff contenders. Eichel is to forfeit just over $100,000 to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.

2. Alexander Nylander receives his first NHL recall of the season

Better late than never, right? The Buffalo Sabres have finally decided to recall Nylander, who is having a great year with the Rochester Americans. In his 49 games, he has racked up 31 total points.

3. Looking for revenge

The last and only time these teams have met this season was not a favorable outcome for the Sabres. They were shut out in Dallas with a disappointing 1-0 final score. The Sabres will look not only to defeat the Stars this season, but to also end their four-game losing streak.

Buffalo Sabres

Forwards

Jeff Skinner - Casey Mittelstadt - Jason Pominville

Conor Sheary - Evan Rodrigues - Alex Nylander

Tage Thompson - Vladimir Sobotka - Sam Reinhart

Scott Wilson - Johan Larsson - Kyle Okposo

Defense

Rasmus Dahlin - Zach Bogosian

Matt Hunwick - Rasmus Ristolainen

Marco Scandella - Brandon Montour

Starting Goaltender: Linus Ullmark

Dallas Stars

Forwards

Rooper Hintz - Tyler Seguin - Alexander Radulov

Jamie Benn - Jason Dickinson - Blake Comeau

Mattias Janmark - Jason Spezza - Brett Ritchie

Andrew Cogliano - Joel L’esperance - Valeri Nichushkin

Defense

Miro Heiskanen - John Klingberg

Esa Lindell - Roman Polak

Taylor Fedun - Ben Lovejoy

Starting Goaltender: Ben Bishop (expected)