Kings in town tonight

⏰ 7 p.m.   ? MSG   ? WGR550

BUFStatsANA
24-23-8Record22-26-27
15-9-4Home12-10-3
9-14-4Away10-16-4
1-2Shootouts5-1
157Goals For143
173Goals Against171
22ndPP Rank31st
30thPK Rank23rd

The Sabres look to end a five-game skid as they take on the Los Angeles Kings tonight at KeyBank Center. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m.

Season series: This is the second and final meeting between these teams this season. The Sabres were victorious in the first meeting on October 20th, beating the Kings 5-1. That game catalyzed a streak for the Sabres where they would get points in 18 of the next 22 games. A hat-trick performance for Jeff Skinner also helped propel him on an absolutely torrid scoring streak.

DateH/ATimeWinnerGWG
Sat, Oct. 20thAway4 p.m.W 5-1Jeff Skinner
Tues, Dec. 11thHome7 p.m.W 4-3 (OT)Jeff Skinner

Buffalo notes: The Sabres have struggled mightily after their 10-game win streak. Their most recent loss, a 6-2 “stinker” to the Flyers was deemed “unacceptable” by players and warranted a team meeting with some “tough conversations.” Buffalo is 0-3-2 in their last five games but still sits comfortably in the standings with 38 points. Jack Eichel has found the back of the net of late as well, scoring two goals in each of his last two games. 

#Top ScorersGPGoalsAssistsPoints
9Eichel68364278
23Reinhart69222850
68Olofsson54202242
26Dahlin5943640
55Ristolainen6962733

Los Angeles notes: The Kings are still an underachieving squad this season. With a record of 11-19-1, they are hovering around the basement of the NHL. They are also one of four teams to fire their coach this season, relieving John Stevens of his duties and replacing him with Willie Desjardins. The Kings cap off back-to-back games in Buffalo after a 3-1 loss to the Red Wings, in which they actually dominated the shot and possession metrics. Snakebitten, they’ve scored two or fewer goals in 12 of their last 17 games. 

#Top ScorersGPGoalsAssistsPoints
15Ryan Getzlaf53112536
67Rickard Rakell49132033
33Jakob Silfverberg50161531
14Adam Henrique55181129
4Cam Fowler5591928

Starting goaltenders: The Kings will likely go with backup (and former Sabres prospect) Cal Petersen, while Carter Hutton may return to the crease for Buffalo after a brief absence with an upper-body injury. 

Starting GoaltendersW/LGAASV %SHO
Carter Hutton15-17-32.84.9090
Career vs. TBL2-2-03.38.8760
Louis Domingue19-4-02.86.9080
Career vs. BUF3-3-02.87.8980

Line Combos:

Offense

1st Line
2nd Line
3rd Line
4th Line

Defense

1st Pairing
2nd Pairing
3rd Pairing

Goaltenders

StarterBackup

Matt Studemeyer
Matt Studemeyer
Although born and raised in Charleston, SC, I've had a passion for both hockey and the Buffalo Sabres since childhood. In addition to writing, I'm also an avid musician/guitarist and currently work in the moving and transportation industry.
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