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

The Buffalo Sabres are in Anaheim tonight to take on the Ducks at Honda Center. It's the first of three games through the state of California, which means late start times on the East Coast.
Tune in tonight at 9:30 p.m. on MSG for the Buick Game Night pregame show and then stick around for the opening faceoff, which will take place just after 10. Dan Dunleavy and Rob Ray will have the call on MSG and WGR 550.
Here's what you need to know.

Tonight's matchup

From the trusty Game Notes compiled by @SabresPR…
- The Ducks have averaged just 2.37 goals per game in their 38 all-time meetings against the Sabres, marking Buffalo's lowest per-game average against any opponent. - The Sabres have earned points in each of their last five games against the Ducks dating back to March 17, 2017 (4-0-1), including wins in both meetings last season. They have won their last three games in Anaheim, with the last loss coming on Feb. 24, 2016.

Tuesday's practice

From the Ice Level Practice Report…
Ralph Krueger has stressed since the start of training camp that the Sabres feel confident with either of their two goalies in net. Never has that been more evident than in their past two wins.
Linus Ullmark got the nod against the Florida Panthers on Friday. He stopped 41 shots, then blanked the Panthers in the shootout to secure a 3-2 victory. It was his second performance of 40-plus saves in as many starts this season.
The Sabres turned to Carter Hutton for their next game, against the Dallas Stars on Monday afternoon. He turned away all 25 of the shots he faced for his first shutout with the organization, staying undefeated through four appearances.

With a condensed schedule resulting from the team's trip to Sweden in November, Krueger has said it's imperative that either goalie is prepared to start on any given day. So far, they have been.
"A lot of it is the fact that they both get to play then they both feel like they have a little bit of a rhythm going," assistant coach Mike Bales, who works with the goaltenders, said. "One guy's not going to sit for too long. So, they always feel game-ready because of that too. It helps a lot.
"You can practice all you want, but when you get into games it feels a little bit different. The traditional, old-school way of doing it where you have one guy play 65 games and the backup would come in and mop up once in a while, wouldn't get that many starts, was tough on backups for rhythm and feeling ready so I think having two guys going all the time helps them be ready when they do play."
Hutton and Ullmark have combined to produce a .956 save percentage at 5-on-5, second in the NHL to the Boston Bruins and one spot ahead of Buffalo's next opponent, the Anaheim Ducks.
For more from practice, including yesterday's line combinations and defensive pairings, click here.

#Goalofsson joins NHL Tonight

Today in Sabres history

1982: Phil Housley records his first NHL goal in a 9-2 win at Washington.