Sharpen Up: All the Sabres news you need to know on March 9, 2020
Buffalo plays Washington tonight at home
by Chris Ryndak @ChrisRyndak / Sabres.com
It's a game night in Buffalo. The Sabres will take on the Washington Captials tonight for a 7 p.m. faceoff at KeyBank Center.
Catch the GMC Game Night pregame show at 6:30 on MSG. Members of the Academy of Hockey will join the broadcast to share some teaching tips for young hockey players throughout the game.
Here's what you need to know.
Tonight's matchup
- This is the second of three meetings between the Sabres and Capitals this season.
- Last meeting: Washington defeated Buffalo 6-1 in Washington on Nov. 1, 2019.
- Next meeting: Monday, March 30 in Buffalo.
- Kyle Okposo (800th NHL game) and Sam Reinhart (400th NHL games) are both expected to reach milestone games played totals tonight.
- With a win tonight, the Sabres would have consecutive home wins against the Capitals for the first time since 2011-12.
- Jack Eichel has posted five points (2+3) in five games against the Capitals since the beginning of the 2017-18 season.
A look back at last game
Video: BUF Recap: Kahun scores lone goal in 3-1 loss
From Saturday's Postgame Report…
The Buffalo Sabres put 39 shots on net, but they could only beat Carter Hart once Saturday night.
The Sabres entered the third period tied, however, they ultimately fell to the Philadelphia Flyers 3-1 at Wells Fargo Center as the Flyers extended their win streak to nine games.
Dominik Kahun scored Buffalo's lone goal for his fourth point in the last five games. He has two goals and two assists since he was acquired by the Sabres at the NHL Trade Deadline. Claude Giroux scored twice for the Flyers and Joel Farabee added another late in the third. Carter Hutton made 21 saves for the Sabres.
Buffalo's power play went 0-for-4 on the night, and they had three opportunities in the third period alone. The Sabres have now lost six games in a row.
Video: POSTGAME: Victor Olofsson
Video: POSTGAME: Dominik Kahun
"Our power play has got to be a lot better. That's where we're losing a lot of these games," forward Victor Olofsson said. "We're don't score on the power play and I feel like the other team does. It's a big part in this league so we've got to get better there and, of course, 5-on-5 as well. We've got to keep taking pucks to the net."
Jeff Skinner led the team with nine shot attempts, including six that ended up on net. He was back on a line with Jack Eichel and Sam Reinhart, and saw power-play time with them, Olofsson and Rasmus Ristolainen, as well. Buffalo ended up with seven shots on their four power plays.
"Any time it's going like that, it's not fun. You want to win games," Skinner said. "We're getting opportunities, we're just not finding ways to bury them, and then the other team is. That's been the difference in most of the games lately."
Video: POSTGAME: Ralph Krueger
Sabres coach Ralph Krueger liked the way his new combinations spent time in the offensive zone and limited chances from the Flyers.
"I did like the feel of the team today. After two periods, you'd say, 'Well, we really put ourselves in a position to break their winning streak,' but they're on a roll," Sabres coach Ralph Krueger said. "They're playing excellent hockey, very confident team. They didn't need much and compliment to them that they kept their streak alive tonight because we were very close to biting that off."