This is the one and only meeting between these teams this season. They also met just once last year, and Colorado won that game by a 4-3 score in overtime.
Buffalo and Colorado have both been playing well over the past couple of weeks. The Avalanche are 7-3 in the past 10 while the Sabres are 7-2-1.
These are two teams fighting for the final playoff spot in their respective conferences. Colorado are in 11th with 78 points, but just two points out from 7th. A win for Buffalo would put them two back of Washington.
Both goaltenders have been on a roll, being a main reason for their teams’ recent hot streaks. Semyon Varlamov is 7-2 with a 1.32 goals against and two shutouts over his last nine games. During that stretch, he has allowed more than two goals just once.
Ryan Miller is 9-1-1 in his last 11 starts with a 1.78 goals-against average. As hot as Miller has been recently, there is something he can do tonight that he has never done before – record a win against the Avalanche. It’s the only current NHL team that he has not recorded a win against.
Buffalo will be without Tyler Myers, who received a three game suspension for his hit on Scott Gomez. The Sabres have called up Brayden McNabb, who will fill in for Myers.
The Sabres were hoping to get some help from around the league last night, but that didn’t happen.
After being up 4-1 against Washington last night, the Islanders blew a three goal lead and lost in the shootout. Because of it, the Capitals moved four points ahead of Buffalo.
Tonight’s game is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. EST and will air on NBCSN.