This is the second and final meeting between the Sabres and Sharks this season. Buffalo defeated San Jose 6-3 in Buffalo in their last matchup on December 4, 2022. Jack Quinn scored twice in that game.
The Sabres are 4-6-0 in their last 10 games against the Sharks, and 6-4-0 on the road.
This is the 47th game all-time between Buffalo and San Jose; Buffalo has a 28-12-6 series record. The Sabres are 8-9-5 on the road against the Sharks all-time.
In 46 matchups between the Sabres and the Sharks all-time, Buffalo has earned 67.4 percent of the total possible points, the highest percentage against any team the Sabres have faced.
Jeff Skinner has recorded at least one goal in each of his last six games against the Sharks. Skinner has recorded at least one point in each of the seven games he has played against San Jose as a member of the Sabres (7+2).
He has recorded at least on point in each of his last five games in San Jose (4+2).
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- Matchup of dominant defensemen
Tonight's matchup will feature two defensemen performing at an extremely high level: Buffalo's Rasmus Dahlin and San Jose's Erik Karlsson.
Karlsson, a two-time Norris Trophy winner, is having a resurgent season with the Sharks. Through 56 games, he has a league-high 73 points among defensemen, and also leads all blue liners n in goals (18), assists (55).
Dahlin is in the midst of a career year. The 22-year-old Swede has 58 points (second among defensemen), 14 goals (third) and 44 assists (fourth).
Dahlin currently ranks eighth all-time in assists (173) by a defenseman prior to their 23rd birthday. He is four points away from tying Scott Stevens (177) for seventh place.
Per NHL Stats, Dahlin is one of 12 NHL defensemen who have recorded 200 or more points prior to celebrating their 23rd birthday. He'll turn 23 on April 13.
### 4. The playoff picture
Here's how the Wild Card race is currently shaking out:
| Team | GP | Points | Points % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| WC1 - Pittsburgh Penguins | 54 | 63 | .583 |
| WC2 - New York Islanders | 58 | 63 | .543 |
| Washington Capitals | 57 | 62 | .544 |
| Florida Panthers | 58 | 62 | .534 |
| Detroit Red Wings | 54 | 60 | .556 |
| Buffalo Sabres | 53 | 58 | .547 |
Tonight, the Panthers are in action on the road against the Predators, the Islanders are in Boston, the Penguins host the Devils and the Red Wings are in Seattle.
Washington is taking on Carolina outdoors at 8 p.m. in this year's Stadium Series game, which is being played at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh, North Carolina.
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- What's ahead
The Sabres will return home for their next game on Tuesday against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Toronto made headlines late last night when the team acquired former Sabres alternate captain Ryan O'Reilly in a three-team trade that involved St. Louis and Minnesota.
Limited tickets are still available and can be purchased here.
