7 p.m. ? MSG ? WGR550
The Buffalo Sabres aim to gain some ground in their hunt for a playoff spot against the Minnesota Wild tonight at the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, NY.
Season series:
The Sabres have a chance to sweep the season series at home after the first meeting between the two teams resulted in a come from behind win; scoring three straight to win 3-2 for their fifth win during their 10-game win streak. Buffalo has never won two games in a single season against Minnesota, and you have to go back to the 2011 and 2012 seasons to find Buffalo’s last consecutive wins over the Wild.
Buffalo notes:
The Sabres will look to right the ship on their seven-game homestand after falling, 7-3, to the Chicago Blackhawks last Friday night. Sitting three points from the bottom Wild Card spot and six points from the 3rd spot in the Atlantic Division, Buffalo must take advantage of home ice to close the gap.
C.J. Smith will find his way back into the lineup with Johan Larsson out with an upper-body injury. Smith’s last appearance in the NHL resulted in his first career goal and a 5-1 Buffalo win over the New Jersey Devils.
Opponent notes:
The Minnesota Wild have been up and down lately, going 5-4-1 in their last 10 games. After dropping their last two games on back-to-back nights, they will look to bounce back on the road where they have gone .500. They will need to return to their winning ways if they hope to catch the red-hot Dallas Stars, who have won their last five games in a row and lead the Wild by four points in the Central Division.