Game 63

Buffalo Sabres (29-25-8) vs. Colorado Avalanche (36-18-7)

Puck Drop: 8:00 PM EST | Pepsi Center | Denver, CO

TV: NBCSN

Radio: WGR 550

SB Nation Avalanche blog: Mile High Hockey

Know Your Opponent

Colorado Avalanche

Record: (36-18-7) | 79 PTS

Last 10: 7-2-1

Division Ranking: 3rd in Central Division

Conference Ranking: 3rd in Western Conference

PP: 21st (18.5%)

PK: 17th (79.8%)

What to Watch

1. Gone Streaking

Both the Sabres and the Avalanche are heading into tonight’s game on winning streaks. The Sabres have won two straight, while the Avalanche have won three straight. (Colorado has also won six straight road games, but that’s a moot point since this is a home game.) Whose streak will end tonight?

2. On the Road Again

Tonight’s game opens up a four-game road trip for the Sabres. After visiting the Avalanche this evening, they’ll head to Vegas (Friday, 10 pm); Arizona (Saturday, 8 pm) and Winnipeg (Tuesday, 8 pm) before returning home to host the Pittsburgh Penguins - and old friends Conor Sheary and Evan Rodrigues - on March 5.

Projected Lineup

Buffalo Sabres

Forwards

Victor Olofsson - Jack Eichel - Sam Reinhart

Jimmy Vesey - Marcus Johansson - Wayne Simmonds

Jeff Skinner - Curtis Lazar- Michael Frolik

Zemgus Girgensons - Johan Larsson - Kyle Okposo

Defense

Rasmus Dahlin - Colin Miller

Brandon Montour - Rasmus Ristolainen

Jake McCabe - Henri Jokiharju

Starting Goaltender: Carter Hutton (projected)

Colorado Avalanche

Forwards

Gabriel Landeskog - Nathan MacKinnon - Valeri Nichuskin

Tyson Jost - J.T. Compher - Joonas Donskoi

Vladislav Namestnikov - Pierre-Edouard Bellemare - Martin Kaut

Logan O’Connor - Vladislav Kamenev - Mark Barberio

Defense

Ian Cole - Nikita Zadorov

Ryan Graves - Cale Makar

Samuel Girard - Erik Johnson

Goaltenders

Pavel Francouz

Michael Hutchinson