Sabres at Jets preview

SABRES (29-28-8) at JETS (33-28-6)
8 p.m. ET; TSN3, MSG-B, NHL.TV

The forward, who has scored 26 goals, missed a 3-2 loss at the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday with a lower-body injury. He took part in Winnipeg's morning skate and is a game-time decision.
The Jets are tied with the Nashville Predators and Arizona Coyotes for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Western Conference.
Goalie Connor Hellebuyck will start for Winnipeg, which is 1-3-1 in its past five games after going 6-2-0 in its previous eight.
The Sabres, who defeated the Jets 2-1 in Buffalo on Feb. 23, have lost three straight.
Goalie Carter Hutton is expected to start for Buffalo. He has a .973 save percentage in his past five games against Winnipeg and is 5-5-1 with a 2.02 goals-against average and .935 save percentage in 12 games against the Jets/Atlanta Thrashers franchise.

Players to watch

Sabres forward Wayne Simmonds needs one point to reach 500 in the NHL.
Jets forward Kyle Connor has four points (three goals, one assist) during a four-game point streak.

They said it

"They're fighting hard here right now to maintain their position in the race. They're a really connected team as far as they play in both directions. … I think we need to respect them and play our best game here tonight. It's an excellent atmosphere in this building and I'm just really expecting a playoff-like game for sure." -- Sabres coach Ralph Krueger on playing the Jets
"[Jack Eichel] is definitely a guy we have to watch out there. He's one of the best players in the league right now, and he's a guy that we definitely have to be aware of. Other than that, we have to play a solid game and stick with it until the end." -- Jets center Mark Scheifele

Sabres projected lineup

Victor Olofsson -- Jack Eichel -- Sam Reinhart
Jimmy Vesey -- Marcus Johansson -- Dominik Kahun
Jeff Skinner -- Curtis Lazar -- Wayne Simmonds
Zemgus Girgensons -- Johan Larsson -- Kyle Okposo
Brandon Montour -- Rasmus Ristolainen
Jake McCabe -- Henri Jokiharju
Rasmus Dahlin -- Lawrence Pilut
Carter Hutton
Jonas Johansson
Scratched: Michael Frolik, Colin Miller
Injured: Linus Ullmark (lower body), Tage Thompson (upper body), Vladimir Sobotka (lower body)

Jets projected lineup

Kyle Connor -- Mark Scheifele -- Blake Wheeler
Nikolaj Ehlers -- Cody Eakin -- Patrik Laine
Jansen Harkins -- Andrew Copp -- Jack Roslovic
Gabriel Bourque -- Nicholas Shore -- Mason Appleton
Josh Morrissey -- Dylan DeMelo
Dmitry Kulikov -- Neal Pionk
Nathan Beaulieu -- Tucker Poolman
Connor Hellebuyck
Laurent Brossoit
Scratched: Logan Shaw, Anthony Bitetto
Injured: Mark Letestu (upper body), Bryan Little (upper body), Carl Dahlstrom (upper body), Adam Lowry (upper body), Mathieu Perreault (upper body), Luca Sbisa (upper body), Sami Niku (lower body)

Status report

Jets coach Paul Maurice said Perreault,a forward, is day to day. Lowry, a forward, remains week to week. … The Jets assigned defenseman Nelson Nogier and forward C.J. Suess to Manitoba of the American Hockey League on Sunday.

Stat pack

McCabe has three assists during a three-game point streak. … Skinner has scored a goal in each of his past two games. …The Jets are 3-1-1 in their past five games against the Sabres. … Wheeler has 10 points (four goals, six assists) in his past nine games. … Scheifele has 11 points (five goals, six assists) in his past seven games and 11 points (five goals, six assists) in his past 10 against the Sabres.