Game Preview | 5 things to know ahead of Sabres at Blackhawks

It's another Buffalo Sabres game night as the team is in Chicago to take on the Chicago Blackhawks.
Faceoff is set for 8:30 p.m. on MSG and WGR 550. Pregame coverage starts at 8 on MSG.
UPDATE (7:15 p.m.) -Craig Anderson will start in goal.
Here are five things to know for tonight's game:

1. Back-to-back efforts

Today's game concludes Buffalo's eighth of 15 sets of back-to-back games this season, which began with a 4-1 loss to the Florida Panthers last night.
The Sabres are 3-4-1 in the first game of back-to-back sets and 1-6-0 in the second game so far this season.
Buffalo's point breakdown in back-to-back sets this season is: four points (1), three points (0), two points (2), one point (1) and zero points (3).

2. History against Chicago

A win in tonight's game would give the Sabres four consecutive wins over the Blackhawks for the first time in franchise history. Each of Buffalo's last two wins against Chicago have come in overtime.
This is the second and final meeting between the Sabres and Blackhawks this season. Buffalo defeated Chicago 4-3 in overtime on October 29 at KeyBank Center.
The Sabres are 4-3-3 in their last 10 games against the Blackhawks; 1-6-3 on the road.
This is the 128th game all-time between Buffalo and Chicago. Buffalo has a 57-53-17 series record. The Sabres are 20-34-9 on the road against the Blackhawks all-time.

3. Hot hands

Alex Tuch has notched 35 points (14+21) in his last 27 games, including 18 points (8+10) in his last 14 games. He scored his career-high 21 st goal of the season last night.
Rasmus Dahlin, meanwhile, is on pace for 95 points this season, which would shatter Phil Housley's single-season franchise points record by a Sabres defenseman (81).
Casey Mittelstadt has recorded six points (0+6) in his last seven games.
Tage Thompson has recorded seven points (4+3) in his last seven games.
Dylan Cozens has tallied 32 points (10+21) in his last 29 games and owns nine points (3+6) in his last 10 games.
In his last 21 games, Jeff Skinner has notched 28 points (13+15).
Victor Olofsson has three points (2+1) in his last three games.

4. Roster news

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made the start against Florida last night. He was recalled Monday morning from Rochester and Peyton Krebs was loaned to the Amerks as part of the team's daily roster management. Eric Comrie served as the backup and Craig Anderson was a healthy scratch.
Luukkonen has made three consecutive starts for the Sabres.
Before the game, coach Don Granato said he expected Krebs to be back in the lineup for the Sabres tonight.
UPDATE (12:40 p.m.) -The Sabres have recalled Krebs and loaned Luukkonen to Rochester.

5. All-Star voting ends tonight

Go to NHL.com/Vote and cast your ballot up to 10 times today. Select two Sabres skaters and a goaltender to join Tage Thompson on the Atlantic Division roster.
Voting ends at midnight. All-Star Weekend will take place on February 3 and 4 in South Florida.