The Buffalo Sabres (15-34-8) are back in action Tuesday night following the NHL Olympic break to play the Carolina Hurricanes (26-22-9) at the First Niagara Center.
Tuesday’ game is a rescheduled game from January 8th due to a blizzard that crippled Buffalo.
There are eight days left until the NHL trade deadline, and the Buffalo Sabres are already out of playoff contention. Players like Ryan Miller, Steve Ott, and Matt Moulson could each be playing their last games in Buffalo as a member of the Sabres.
Other players including Miller, Henrik Tallinder, Jhonas Enroth, and Zemgus Girgensons are returning from Sochi, Russia after playing for their respected countries in the Olympics. Tallinder and Enroth are both returning with a silver medal won with Team Sweden.
Carolina has four players of their own returning from the Olympics, but only Tuomo Ruutu is coming home with a bronze medal with Team Finland.
The Sabres returned to practice on Friday afternoon with healthy bodies. Moulson, Cody McCormick, and Tyler Myers are all healthy and could be ready to play Tuesday. Moulson and Myers were hurt shortly before the Olympic break, while Cody McCormick have been hurt since middle December with an upper-body injury. Zenon Konopka had finger surgery during break, and should be 100-percent healthy by the trade deadline.
For Carolina, defenseman Joni Pitkanen has been out all year and is not expected to return until next season. Newly acquired defenseman John-Michael Liles is questionable to play with a lower-body injury.
Ryan Miller was announced as the starter by Ted Nolan on Monday for the Sabres, while Cam Ward is going to get the start for the Hurricanes.
Opening face-off is scheduled for 7pm. The game can be seen on MSG Network.