Sharpen Up: All the Sabres news you need to know on February 21, 2020

The Buffalo Sabres will practice today ahead of their game tomorrow afternoon in Pittsburgh.
Faceoff against the Penguins is set for 1 p.m. with pregame coverage on MSG kicking off at 12:30.
Then Buffalo will host Winnipeg on Sunday at 3 p.m. at KeyBank Center, with the GMC Game Night pregame show starting at 2:30 on MSG. Tickets are on sale now.
Here's what you need to know.

Thursday's practice

From the Ice Level Practice Report…
Jack Eichel and Kyle Okposo both took maintenance days Thursday and will be evaluated on a day-to-day basis, Buffalo Sabres coach Ralph Krueger said.
Michael Frolik, who has missed the past two games with an illness, was also absent. Krueger said Frolik skated on his own Thursday morning and is expected back at practice on Friday.
The Sabres invited an emergency third goaltender for practice to help manage the workload for Carter Hutton, who has made four straight starts but missed the team's previous two practices.
"We were pleased to see him feel pretty good through the skate today," Krueger said regarding Hutton. "Again, it's certainly not a serious thing. It's more nagging. We're optimistic about the way he reacted out on the ice today."

The Sabres have another day to get healthy prior to their back-to-back set this weekend, which begins Saturday afternoon in Pittsburgh and concludes Sunday at home against Winnipeg. Those game carry added weight following a loss in Ottawa on Tuesday, which snapped a three-game winning streak.
"Let's be honest, we know the margin for error - that's actually something we were speaking about today - is very, very small," Krueger said. "We need to recover quickly from our loss in Ottawa. … Now it's about getting right back to where we first and not letting anybody pull us and derail us and get the confidence that we had through these past three home wins."
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Remembering Tim Horton

On this day in 1974, Sabres defenseman Tim Horton passed away in a car accident after a game in Toronto.
In the latest episode of Sabres Memories, we look back at the tragedy and the impact Horton had on a young Sabres team:

For more on Horton's legendary NHL career, check out our Sabres Hall of Fame profile:

Partnership with Project Play WNY announced

The Buffalo Sabres today announced that the team has partnered with Project Play Western New York. This organization helps to highlight the resources available to the youth of Western New York by providing the opportunity for local kids to be physically active in sports regardless of their age, background, gender or ability.
"The Buffalo Sabres are proud to support the very important work being done by Project Play Western New York," said Sabres vice president of community relations Rich Jureller. "The physical and emotional benefits that play and sport provides to children are essential for their development. Through our partnership with Project Play Western New York, we hope to help create a community where all kids become lifelong participants in sport and play."
The Sabres will kick off the partnership at their game against the Winnipeg Jets on Sunday, February 23 at 3 p.m., where the first 10,000 children in attendance will receive a Sabres-branded Project Play Western New York "Free Play" deck of cards. The Sabres have donated 500 tickets to the game to youth organizations that work with Project Play and Sabres captain Jack Eichel has donated his suite to the Hamburg Hawks Girls 14U team.
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