Sabres ready for another big test in Nashville

NASHVILLE -The Buffalo Sabres are no strangers to big games lately.
Each game of their 10-game winning streak last month seemed to gain steam in terms of intensity as it went on, especially when it ended with a first-place battle against Tampa Bay on Thursday. On Friday, they managed to earn a point in a 3-2 overtime loss to the Florida Panthers, who are now 2-1-1 in their last five games and four points out of a Wild Card berth.
Tonight, they'll wrap up their three-game road trip when they go up against the Nashville Predators, who sit in first place in the Western Conference. The Predators are 10-5-0 at home this year and are coming off a 5-2 win over the Blackhawks on Saturday, a game in which they jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first period.

The Lightning are also in action tonight in New Jersey. If Tampa loses in regulation, whichever team comes away with two points at Bridgestone Arena will be tied with them at the top of the NHL standings with 39 points.
Faceoff from Bridgestone Arena is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET with the GMC Game Night pregame show on MSG starting at 7:30. The run against top opponents continues for Buffalo with a contest Tuesday night at home against Toronto, who are currently one point ahead of Buffalo and Nashville.
First though, the Sabres will focus on the task at hand.
"We'd like to salvage this road trip and come out with a win," coach Phil Housley said after the club's morning skate. "Obviously, it's going to be difficult and it's going to be a tough job, but I think our guys will be ready."

Goaltender Carter Hutton is 0-2-1 against the Predators in five career appearances and three starts. All three of those starts came against Pekka Rinne, who could be in net for the Predators tonight.
Hutton, Buffalo's expected starter tonight, served as Rinne's backup for three seasons in Nashville and developed a close relationship with the reigning Vezina Trophy winner.
Hutton is trying to pass on some of the lessons he learned over the years onto Linus Ullmark, who is in the midst of his first full NHL season.
"Every day come to work and do what you need to do and take care of business. But at the same time, being a good person," Hutton said. "For me, a lot of times in this position and this world, everybody wants to undermine everybody to get ahead and it doesn't get you anywhere. I think you've just got to do the right things and be a good person. The rest takes care of itself."
Housley is also familiar with the Predators organization and their style of play, having served as an assistant coach there for four seasons. Even with Viktor Arvidsson, Filip Forsberg, Kyle Turris and P.K. Subban out due to injury, he knows it's going to be a difficult test.
"The work part of it is going to be important tonight. This is a team that's banged up but they have a good, hard work ethic and we're going to have to match that or be better," Housley said. "I think getting off to a better start - we've talked about it before - but we're really going to have to focus on that and our execution because they will try to establish their forecheck and try to hem you in and build some momentum off that. So we've got try to steal that from them."
It's no secret that the atmosphere in Bridgestone Arena favors the home team. A players poll conducted by NHL.com this fall ranked it the hardest building to play in.
"This is a rink that when they start buzzing you, it seems like it closes in on you," Hutton said. "They do a good job feeding off the crowd so it's something we have to be prepared for tonight."

Lineup notes

Lawrence Pilut is set to play in his second NHL game and he could see a boost in both ice time and responsibility. He was paired with Rasmus Ristolainen at the morning skate.
"He's here, let's see what he can bring to our team. I thought he had a pretty good game against Florida," Housley said. "He made some mistakes - that's going to happen at times, stepping in at the NHL level - but we're just giving him a bigger opportunity."
Rasmus Dahlin and Zach Bogosian, and Nathan Beaulieu and Casey Nelson will make up the other pairs. The Sabres are without Jake McCabe and Marco Scandella because of injuries.
As for the forwards, Jason Pominville and Conor Sheary were on the ice for the morning skate.
Pominville has been ruled out after taking a hard hit into the end boards on Friday in Florida.
"I woke up today and felt much better. Honestly didn't really think if I was going to skate today, but felt good enough and they decided to let me go out there," he said. "I obviously wasn't opposed to it, but it was nice to be out there for sure."
He's hopeful to be back for tomorrow's game against the Maple Leafs.
Sheary did extra drills on the ice after the skate with the scratches and injured players. Housley declared him a game-time decision. If he can't go, it looks like Remi Elie will play on a line with center Evan Rodrigues and Vladimir Sobotka.