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LIGHTNING (12--4--1) at SABRES (9--6--2)
7:30 p.m. ET; NBCSN, NHL.TV

The Lightning's four-game winning streak ended Saturday with a 6-4 loss to the Ottawa Senators. Tampa Bay is 4-0-0 this season in games following a loss.
Buffalo has won two straight and three of its past four games after a three-game losing streak. In each of their past two wins, the Sabres rallied in the third period to force overtime.
The Lightning have scored at least four goals in five straight while the Sabres have done so in three of their past four games.

Players to watch

Lightning forward Steven Stamkos has seven points (four goals, three assists) in his past five games.
Sabres forward Sam Reinhart has six points (one goal, five assists) in his past four games.

They said it

"Todd Richards and Derek Lalonde have taken it over. They had a concise plan from the very beginning of training camp and they've put the plan in place, and we've stayed with the plan and not strayed. They've done a really good job. We may give up some shots but they're not high-quality shots and when we do, our goaltending's been there to save the day for us." -- Lightning coach Jon Cooper on Tampa Bay's success on the penalty kill (87.7 percent, tied for second in the NHL)
"It's an important test for us and it comes at a good time. We know how we can play and if we do that, it's a good test to see where we kind of match up. Everyone knows how good they are and how much skill they bring to the game. We're looking forward to it."-- Sabres forward Sam Reinhart on facing the Lightning

Tampa Bay Lightning projected lineup
Sabres projected lineup
Status report

Cernak will make his NHL debut after being called up from Syracuse of the American Hockey League on Tuesday.

Stat pack

McDonagh is one assist from 200 in the NHL. … Kucherov needs two assists for 200 in the NHL. … Skinner is two away from 400 NHL points.