Sharpen Up: December 9, 2016

What, the Sabres are playing the Washington Capitals again? Yep. And it's on home ice tonight. The Sabres enter tonight's game with a 5-2-2 record in their last nine games.
Will Josh Gorges, Dmitry Kulikov or Nicolas Deslauriers be back in the lineup? They practiced with the team yesterday as they all are working their way back from injuries.
Here's what you need to know.

Gorges has missed three games with a foot injury and was expected to miss weeks of action, so it was a bit of a surprise when he was back on the ice yesterday. Deslauriers' been out 19 games with a knee injury, but has skating a lot on his own recenrlly. And Kulikov has been dealing with a lower-back issue that has caused him to sit out the past 13 games. He was on the ice with the team last Sunday for practice in addition to Thursday's skate.

"I feel like I could [play]," Gorges said. "I guess we'll reevaluate things today and tomorrow morning, talk to doctors and the medical staff and get a better idea of whether that's possible or not."

"It's Dan's decision," Deslauriers said. "Whatever happens tomorrow, I'll be ready. And if not, next game's probably going to be a better option."
Here's Kulikov:

The Sabres sent Erik Burgdoerfer back to Rochester yesterday afternoon, meaning that either Gorges or Kulikov may be ready. We'll have more info shortly during the morning skate.

Heat wave

A few players are riding hot streaks. From the Game Notes (which you should always check out, courtest of our Media Relations Department).
Jack Eichel has 11 points (4+7) in his last 10 games dating back to last season, including five points (3+2) in five games in 2016-17.
Rasmus Ristolainen has seven points (1+6) his last five games.
Ryan O'Reilly has six points (2+4) in his last five games.
Evander Kane has five points (3+2) in his last five games, including points in three straight home games.
Kyle Okposo has five points (2+3) in his last four games against the Capitals.
Buffalo was ranked third in the NHL in power play percentage (23.0%) and fourth in team faceoff percentage (52.0%) entering play Thursday.
And more from yesterday's Ice Level Practice Report, captain Brian Gionta has passed the eyeball and analytical tests when it comes to being one of Buffalo's steadiest players this year:
According to puckalytics.com, Gionta leads the team in goals per 60 (1.07) and assists per 60 (0.89). The former number ranks 39th in the NHL.
"It's about helping the team," Gionta said. "It's about doing something that helps the team win. Sometimes it's a goal, sometimes it's about shutting down [other team's] top lines. That's how I measure how the season is going."
That willingness to help the team in any way possible is evident in the fact that the majority of his shifts begin outside the offensive zone. In fact, 45.87 percent of the faceoffs that have been taken when Gionta is on the ice during 5-on-5 situations have come in the defensive zone, a number that ranks ninth in the League.
That tendency to start in the defensive zone signals a change in Gionta's role from years past. His 17.66 offensive-zone faceoff percentage this season is a career low, and he was often over 30 percent in that category with New Jersey and in his first few years with Montreal. Even last season, when he joined Marcus Foligno and Johan Larsson to form the Sabres' checking line, he was still taking 25.46 percent of his faceoffs in the offensive zone.
He's on pace to score 18 goals this season, which would be his highest mark since 2013-14.

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On tap today

If you can't make it to the game tonight, make sure you tune into the TOPS Game Night pregame show starting at 6:30 p.m. on MSG. RJ and Rayzor have the call when the puck drops just after 7. You can also listen live on WGR 550.
Then stick with us after the game for full postgame coverage here at Sabres.com.