Sharpen Up: All the Sabres news you need to know on December 6, 2019

After their game against Calgary last night, the Buffalo Sabres will turn their attention to this weekend's slate of back-to-back games.
They'll practice today in British Columbia before taking on the Vancouver Cancuks on Saturday and the Edmonton Oilers on Sunday.
Here's what you need to know.

A look back at last night

From the Postgame Report…
Jake McCabe and Jack Eichel scored to bring the Buffalo Sabres within one goal in the final minute, but the late comeback fell short in a 4-3 loss to the Calgary Flames on Thursday.
Eichel's goal was scored with 47.4 seconds remaining and the Sabres on their eighth power play of the night. They had gone 0-for-7 up to that point and allowed a shorthanded goal that put the Flames ahead in the second period, which players agreed was the difference in the game.

"It definitely is what jumps out on the night," coach Ralph Krueger said when asked about special teams. "I thought we came into the game the way we wanted to. Five-on-five was feeling really good. Again, the specialty teams shifted the momentum in their favor and for them to add a dagger in by scoring on the shorthander definitely was a turning point in the game.
"We had a really bad second period overall and it definitely came out of that situation. We just gave up all our principles for a stretch and couldn't find it back in the third. There was a push at the end, which makes it that much more painful, I think, when you look at the storyline."

The Sabres leaned on strong habits away from the puck during their four-game point streak entering Thursday, one of which was forwards recognizing potential turnovers and backtracking to prevent opposing teams from transitioning with control. Reinhart felt they got away from that strength in the second period.
"We got away from our game plan a little bit," he said. "I thought our forwards didn't do a good enough job of recognizing when we were kind of turning pucks over in the offensive zone and our gaps weren't as good as a result which gave them a lot more time and space. They made plays with it."
Sam Reinhart's goal to open the scoring was his 10th in 29 games this season, which is the fewest number of contests it's taken him to reach double-digit goals in his career. His previous best was 10 goals in 42 games, set during his rookie season of 2015-16.
Eichel's late goal extended his point streak to 11 games. He has 20 points during that stretch.

See you at the Skills Challenge

Join us for the second annual Sabres Skills Challenge presented by New Era Cap on Sunday, Jan. 5, 2020 at KeyBank Center.
Current Sabres players will be divided into two teams to compete against each other in an All-Star style event designed for fans of all ages. Net proceeds from the event will benefit the Buffalo Sabres Foundation.
The teams will participate in five different competitions:
• Hardest Shot presented by Niagara Fallsview Casino Resort
• Accuracy Showdown presented by KeyBank
• Puck Control Relay presented by BlueCross BlueShield of Western New York
• Power Play Challenge presented by Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center
• Shootout Challenge presented by New Era Cap
• One-Timer Challenge presented by LECOM
Tickets are on sale now.