Sharpen Up: December 7, 2021 | Buffalo opens homestand tonight vs. Ducks

The Buffalo Sabres will look to snap a four-game losing streak tonight with the Anaheim Ducks in town.
Faceoff is set for 7:30 p.m. Tickets are on sale now. If you plan on watching from home, you'll need a subscription to ESPN+ or Hulu.
For updates from the morning skate, stay tuned to Sabres.com and the team's official social media channels.
Here's what you need to know.

Yesterday's practice

With three goaltenders injured, the Sabres recalled 22-year-old netminder Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen from the Rochester Americans on Monday.
Craig Anderson is month to month with an upper-body injury, Dustin Tokarski is currently in the NHL's COVID-19 protocol, and Malcolm Subban, who was injured during his Sabres debut on Saturday, is still being evaluated.

After practice, head coach Don Granato was not ready to announce if Luukkonen or Aaron Dell would start against the Ducks.
We have more in yesterday's Practice Report.

Tonight's matchup

The Ducks are 13-8-5 this year and are currently in third place in the Pacific Division. Troy Terry leads the Ducks with 26 points (15+11), followed by Trevor Zegras (6+15), who is second in the league in rookie scoring. Zegras has seven assists over his last three games.
Anaheim lost 4-3 in a shootout to the Washington Capitals last night to open its road trip.

We have more from @SabresPR's Game Notes:
• The Sabres have scored a power-play goal in each of their last six games against the Ducks dating back to Feb. 6, 2018. The team has gone 7-for-21 (33.3%) in those games.
• In the all-time series between these clubs, Buffalo has never scored a power-play goal in seven straight games against Anaheim.
• Kyle Okposo enters tonight's contest riding a six-game point streak (2+5) and is looking for his first seven-game point streak since Feb. 4 to 14, 2017 (3+4).
• Okposo has 13 points (6+7) in 14 career games against Anaheim.
• Vinnie Hinostroza has eight points (4+4) in his last six games against the Ducks, including at least a point in each of his last four (1+4).
• Rasmus Dahlin has four points (2+2) in his last four games against the Ducks.
• Dahlin registered two assists against Anaheim on Oct. 28, his first of three multi-point games so far this season.
• Rasmus Asplund registered the first multi-goal game of his NHL career with two goals on Oct. 28 in Anaheim in his only career game against the Ducks.
• Jeff Skinner has registered seven points (3+4) in his last seven games.
• Dylan Cozens has registered four points (3+1) in his last four games

What's ahead

Tonight's game opens up a three-game homestand for Buffalo.
They'll host the New York Rangers on Friday for a White Hot Friday presented by New Amsterdam Vodka. The team will wear their white jerseys and fans can enjoy a pregame happy hour with alumni appearances and giveaways.
And Saturday's game against Washington will be Native American Heritage Night presented by Seneca Resorts and Casinos. The Sabres will devote this game to celebrating Native American cultures and bringing awareness to indigenous stories.
Tickets for both games are on sale now.