5 THINGS - FLAMES @ SABRES

FLAMES (32-25-10: 74 pts.) vs. SABRES (21-34-11: 53 pts.)

1. US

The Flames picked up a point in Pittsburgh on Monday but fell 4-3 in overtime to the Penguins. Mark Giordano, Mikael Backlund and Troy Brouwer scored while Jon Gillies made 28 saves on 32 shots ... The overtime setback gives the Flames 74 points, putting them three points back of the LA Kings, who hold the second Wildcard spot, and four points back of the Anaheim Ducks, who are third in the Pacific Division ... Johnny Gaudreau collected an assist in Pittsburgh, which brings his road points total to 42 in 34 games. He leads all Flames in road points and is second among all NHL skaters, trailing leader Nikita Kucherov by three points ... Mike Smith joined the team in Buffalo on Tuesday and took part in an optional skate at the KeyBank Center. While it was a positive step in his recovery, there is no timeline for his return to game action. The veteran netminder suffered a lower body injury last month and has missed 11 games.

2. THEM

The Sabres picked up a 5-3 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Monday, bringing their record to 21-34-11 this season. Sam Reinhart, Jason Pominville, Zemgus Girgensons, Ryan O'Reilly, and Johan Larsson scored and Chad Johnson made 38 stops in the victory ... Jack Eichel leads the Sabres in scoring with 22 goals and 53 points in 55 skates. The second overall selection in the 2015 NHL Draft now has 70 goals and 166 points in 197 career games ... Johnson, a former Flame, has a 7-10-3 record with a 3.17 GAA and a .898 save percentage this year. He has gone 6-2-0 in his last eight appearances, posting a 2.05 GAA and a .933 save percentage in that stretch ... O'Reilly leads the NHL in face-off wins (1,007) and face-off percentage (60.7%) this year.

3. US vs. THEM

Tonight's match-up is the second and final game in the season series. The Sabres picked up a 2-1 overtime win at the Scotiabank Saddledome on Jan. 22. Matthew Tkachuk and Scott Wilson scored in regulation and Eichel netted the game-winner at the 1:30 mark in extra time. Smith made 31 saves for the Flames while Johnson was credited with 32 stops in the tilt.

4. THIS, THAT & THE OTHER

THIS:Johnny Gaudreau will play in his 300th NHL game this evening. The 24-year-old has 93 goals and 278 points in his first 299 games with the Flames. He was drafted in the fourth round, 104th overall, of the 2011 NHL Draft and spent three years at Boston College before turning pro ... THAT: Mikael Backlund has been on a tear in recent weeks. The pivot has six points in his last five games and now has 41 points on the year with 13 goals and 28 assists ... THE OTHER:Gaudreau has 54 assists on the year, which is the highest total from a Flames skater since Jarome Iginla had the same total in the 2008-09 season.

5. PLAYERS TO WATCH

Flames: RW Troy Brouwer
Brouwer scored a goal and an assist in Pittsburgh on Monday and put in 15:35 of ice time against the Penguins. Thanks to his strong play, the veteran winger was elevated to the Flames' top line in the second half of Monday's game. He now has four points in his last five games, bringing him to 19 points on the year.
Sabres: C Sam Reinhart
Sam Reinhart continued his hot streak on Monday when he put up two points against the Maple Leafs. The 22-year-old has 23 points in his last 22 games, scoring nine goals and 14 assists in that stretch. In 66 games this season, Reinhart has 16 goals and 36 points.