Sharpen Up: April 6, 2018

Buffalo is in Tampa tonight with only two games remaining on the schedule. Faceoff against the Lightning is set for 7:30 p.m. but we'll be on the air with the GMC Game Night pregame show on MSG starting at 7. Dan and Rayzor will then call the action on MSG and WGR 550.
Stick with us on Sabres.com for lineup news and notes when the team takes the ice for the morning skate in a little bit.
Here's what you need to know.

While the NHL regular season is winding down and the Sabres find themselves out of the playoff picture, postseason hockey will be an option for several players eligible to partake in the AHL playoffs with the Rochester Americans in a few weeks.
Rochester's regular season ends on April 14 and they'll take on either the Toronto Marlies or the Syracuse Crunch in the first round of the playoffs.

In yesterday's Ice Level Practice Report, we caught up with a few of those players, including Amerks captain Kevin Porter.
The list of Sabres who are eligible to return to the Amerks for their postseason run includes forwards Porter, Alexander Nylander and Nick Baptiste; defensemen Brendan Guhle, Casey Nelson and Matt Tennyson; and goaltenders Linus Ullmark and Adam Wilcox.

Nelson's eyes lit up when asked about the thought of a playoff run.
"I want nothing more than to go win a championship," he said. "… I guess you can almost call it a second chance for a few of us to go make some noise in the playoffs."
While the Sabres' season will end upon the conclusion of their game in Florida on Saturday, what happens in Rochester in the coming weeks could one day have an impact on the future of the organization.
"They get that experience down there, there's going to be four, five, six, seven guys from there coming up here," Porter said. "If they're used to losing, it's going to continue up here. If we can get down there and go on a long playoff run and hopefully win a Calder Cup, that experience for them is going to translate up here."

When asked to name an MVP for the Amerks this season, many of the young players in the Sabres dressing room were quick to mention Porter's name. He was flattered by the sentiment, but thinks there's plenty of praise to go around.
"I think there's a lot of good players down there," he said. "We've all been playing well, we've been playing as a team. That's why we're getting to the playoffs and hopefully making a long run."

Tonight's matchup

From the Game Notes…
- Jack Eichel has recorded eight points (3+5) in his last five games and has played at a point-per-game pace dating back to mid-November, with 48 points (21+27) in his last 48 games. - Ryan O'Reilly has posted seven points (3+4) in his last six games, including each of his last four. - Rasmus Ristolainen has tallied five assists in his last four games.

Fan Appreciation Goes Digital tomorrow

Fans tuned in to MSG for the team's final road game against the Florida Panthers on April 7 will also have a chance to win prizes throughout the broadcast when Fan Appreciation Night Goes Digital.
Registered My One Buffalo members will be able to access a form to enter the contest to win a variety of prizes, including a $500 Key Possibilities gift card courtesy of KeyBank, an overnight stay package from Buffalo Marriott HarborCenter and two tickets to the Sabres' 2018-19 home opener, and two round-trip tickets courtesy of Delta Air Lines.
To participate in this contest, fans can follow the link in the Sabres section of the My One Buffalo app, which will be available from the beginning of the pregame show through the end of the third period. Winners will be announced by Brian Duff during both intermissions and the postgame show on MSG.