Sharpen Up: All the Sabres news you need to know on November 16, 2019

It's a special night off the ice and an important one on it.
Hockey Fights Cancer Night presented by Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center will be held tonight at KeyBank Center with special programming throughout the night, including a pregame ceremony and ceremonial faceoff.
The Sabres are also looking to get back in the win column following their overtime loss to Carolina on Thursday.
If you can't make it to the arena, catch the GMC Game Night pregame show at 6:30 p.m. on MSG. Faceoff will be after 7. Rick Jeanneret and Rob Ray will have the call on MSG and WGR 550.
Here's what you need to know.

It's Hockey Fights Cancer Night

As part of an NHL-wide initiative to raise money and awareness for cancer research, the Sabres will be hosting events throughout the night in support of local cancer patients and their charitable organizations. All fans attending the game will receive a Sabres Hockey Fights Cancer scarf.

Fans attending the game will have an opportunity to participate in the Autographed Hat Surprise sale. For a $20 donation to the Sabres Foundation, fans will receive a Sabres Hockey Fights Cancer autographed hat. All proceeds from the sale will be donated to Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center. Wives and girlfriends of Sabres players will be on hand to assist with the sale.
Volunteers from Roswell Park will be on hand selling raffle tickets for chances to win Sabres experiences and autographed items. Tickets will be sold on the 100 level near the LECOM Harborcenter bridge until the second intermission.

Furthermore, an online auction featuring unique Sabres autographed merchandise and experiences will be running this week at Sabres.com/Auctions. This auction will start on Saturday, Nov. 16 at 7 p.m. and close on Sunday, Nov. 24 at 9 p.m., with all proceeds benefitting Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center.
To commemorate the night, all Sabres players will wear lavender Hockey Fights Cancer themed jerseys and use sticks with lavender tape during warmups. The jerseys will be auctioned off at Sabres.com/Auctions immediately following the game.
Sabres coaches and broadcasters will be wearing commemorative Hockey Fights Cancer ties and there will be a ceremonial puck drop before the game, so fans are strongly encouraged to be in their seats early.

Sabres goaltenders Carter Hutton and Linus Ullmark will also don Hockey Fights Cancer themed masks.

Who are you fighting for?

Roswell Park volunteers will also be stationed at tables throughout the concourse to help fans fill out their own "I Fight For" placards, which will be held up at a designated time during the second period. A placard and Hockey Fights Cancer scarf will be placed at each seat.

Tonight's matchup

From @SabresPR's Game Notes…
- Tonight's game opens Buffalo's fifth of 14 sets of back-to-back games this season, which continues tomorrow night at Chicago. The Sabres are 0-4-0 in the first game of back-to-back sets and 2-2-0 in the second game so far this season. Buffalo's point breakdown in previous back-to-back sets is: four points (0), three points (0), two points (2), one point (0) and zero points (2).

Friday's practice

From the Ice Level Practice Report…
Rasmus Asplund and Victor Olofsson formed a natural friendship upon leaving their native Sweden for North America at the start of last season. They became roommates and linemates in Rochester, and successful ones at that. They spoke of one day being teammates at the next level.
So, when Asplund learned he was being recalled to the NHL for the first time on Friday, of course it prompted a text message to his friend in Buffalo.
"He texted me pretty early this morning that he was coming up," Olofsson said after practice on Friday. "It's fun. I'm really happy for him. I think he really deserves it. He's been working very hard for a long time and I'm really happy he's here."

Whether Asplund makes his NHL debut against Ottawa on Saturday will depend on the status of Johan Larsson, who is day-to-day with an upper-body injury after scoring the tying goal against Carolina on Thursday.
Coach Ralph Krueger said that Larsson will be evaluated Saturday morning and could still play against the Senators. Asplund practiced in Larsson's usual spot Friday, centering a line with Zemgus Girgensons and Kyle Okposo.
Should Asplund be called upon, Krueger expressed confidence that the 21-year-old's versatility will be an asset. Asplund impressed while skating on a line with Olofsson and Marcus Johansson in training camp and plays the sort of two-way style that should make him a natural replacement for Larsson between Okposo and Girgensons.
"His ability to move to the wing, center, his penalty killing ability and overall what he's been doing since he's come here from Sweden and the work that he's done in Rochester confirmed what we saw in training camp," Krueger said.
"He's somebody who can help us in multiple roles and if we need him tomorrow, he would be ready to jump in. It's good to have players of that ability and that flexibility in Rochester."
Read more here.

Today in Sabres history

1974:Rick Martin scores the 1,000th goal in franchise history in a 7-5 loss at Boston.