DEVILS (6-3-2) VS SABRES (4-7-2)
TV: MSG+ at 12:30 PM ET
Head-to-Head:
The Devils face the Sabres for the third time in eight meetings after playing them in an afternoon back-to-back on January 30-31.
The Devils lost 4-3 in a shootout on Jan. 30, but bounced back with a 5-3 win in the second meeting.
Michael McLeod scored twice in the victory.
Devils Team Scope:
That Jan. 31, game was the last the Devils played for two weeks with much of the team on the COVID Protocol List.
But since returning the Devils beat the Rangers 5-2 and then the East-leading Bruins 3-2 on Thursday night.
The Devils sit five points out of a playoff spot, but they have 3-4 games in hand on much of the division.
Jack Hughes leads the team in scoring with nine points (3-6-9) in 11 games. Miles Wood leads the team with five goals.
Mackenzie Blackwood has been remarkable between the pipes with a 4-0-1 record and a .945 save percentage.
Sabres Team Scope:
The Sabres are losers of four-straight games to Devils, Islanders and Capitals and have failed to score more than one goal in three of the four.
Victor Olofsson leads the Sabres in scoring with 12 points in 13 games, which is also tied with Jack Eichel. Olofsson has the most goals with six.
By the Numbers:
The Sabres penalty kill is 19th in the league at 78.6%. They do, however, have a potent power play at 5th in the league at 31.1%.
The Devils have allowed the second-fewest goals against in the league (28).
Injury Update:
Devils: Nico Hischier remains the only Devils player still out due to COVID-19 Protocol. Travis Zajac got off the list on Wednesday.
Sabres: Girgensons (ankle) is on IR, Ristolainen (COVID Protocol) is day-to-day, Cozens (COVID Protocol) is also on IR.
