Foligno's play earns him an opportunity on a new line

SUNRISE, Fla. - To spark a comeback on Saturday, Buffalo Sabres coach Dan Bylsma mixed and matched some of his line combinations in the third period.
The result? Their best shifts in the offensive zone and, eventually, the game-tying goal that allowed them to collect a point in Carolina. If we're to read into anything from Monday's practice at BB&T Center, some of those changes might stick for the time being.

Marcus Foligno skated on the top line with Ryan O'Reilly and Sam Reinhart while Evander Kane took reps on the left wing with Johan Larsson and Brian Gionta.
For Foligno, the promotion is well deserved. He earned the secondary assist on Kane's goal Saturday night while the two were on the ice with Larsson. Buffalo was able to cycle the puck down low and Foligno took the puck from the corner to the half wall and found Jake McCabe cross-ice at the opposite point. McCabe's shot ended up being deflected in to tie the game.

Bylsma obviously liked what he saw and will give Foligno a big opportunity on the top line.
"We moved Marcus around in the game and I thought his third period was his best by a mile - playing a big body, playing physical, getting to the net," Bylsma said.
"He was at the net front three or four times there in the third. For three scoring chances, he's the guy at the net, around the net, screening the goalie, getting a tip on some of those pucks and creating second opportunities. That's the way we need him to play for 60 minutes, for every period."

Derek Grant also took first rushes in the middle with William Carrier and Zemgus Girgensons, while Nicolas Deslauriers rotated in. We'll see how the team lines up during tomorrow's morning skate as the Sabres prepare to take on the Florida Panthers at 7:30 p.m. (pregame coverage begins at 7 p.m. Tuesday on MSG).

Monday's practice

82 Marcus Foligno - 90 Ryan O'Reilly - 23 Sam Reinhart
26 Matt Moulson - 15 Jack Eichel - 21 Kyle Okposo
9 Evander Kane - 22 Johan Larsson - 12 Brian Gionta
48 William Carrier - 27 Derek Grant - 28 Zemgus Girgensons - 44 Nicolas Deslauriers
Defensemen: 4 Josh Gorges, 6 Cody Franson, 29 Jake McCabe, 41 Justin Falk, 47 Zach Bogosian, 55 Rasmus Ristolainen, 77 Dmitry Kulikov
40 Robin Lehner
31 Anders Nilsson

Out of town scoreboard watching

The Sabres, who have collected 12 of a possible 18 points in their past nine games, are in the midst of a portion of the schedule loaded with Eastern Conference opponents. The Sabres sit in 14th place in the conference with 31 points through 30 games, but their playoff hopes are still very much alive.
It's no coincidence that this 5-2-2 stretch also coincides with Jack Eichel's return. He's set to play in his 10th game of the season tomorrow since returning from the high-ankle sprain that caused him to miss the first 21 games of the year. Brian Duff has more on that in today's Sabres in :90.

After Buffalo's shootout loss to Carolina on Saturday, captain Brian Gionta lamented letting that extra point slip away. The chase is definitely on the players' minds.
"All year long, every game is important, obviously," alternate captain Josh Gorges said. "When we look at it - not only are we playing teams in our conference, but teams that are two, three, four points up on us and we're trying to close the gap. They're enormous.
"You go back to the old adage, it's a four-point game tomorrow night. We need to make sure we get those points."
When it comes to the race in the Atlantic Division, Montreal is in first place with 44 points, and Ottawa (39 points in 32 games) and Boston (37 points in 33 games) are right behind. Buffalo has games in hand on both the Senators and Bruins and play Boston twice more before the end of the calendar year.
It will probably prove to be harder to make up ground in the Wild Card race because of how dominate the Metropolitan Division has been so far. The Rangers are winning the Metro with 47 points in 34 games.
Washington holds the first Wild Card with 41 points in 30 games and Philadelphia is currently the last team in with 41 points in 33 games. The next closes teams to the second Wild Card spot are Carolina, Tampa Bay and Florida, all with 33 points each.
Buffalo's next seven games are intra-conference with four of them, including tomorrow night's match against Florida, being against rivals in the Atlantic.
Five games are on the League's docket tonight, and four of them involve Eastern Conference teams. Philadelphia is in Nashville, while the Hurricanes host Detroit, and the Maple Leafs play Anaheim in Toronto.
"I think you're always aware and you're always watching," Gorges said. "We try not to worry or focus about what other teams are doing because it's out of your hands. We try to focus on where we are, what we're trying to do and what we need to do to get points each night."