Sharpen Up: December 7, 2017

Coming off a 4-2 win in Colorado on Tuesday, the Sabres will return to practice this afternoon in Chicago. They'll play the Blackhawks tomorrow night.
Here's what you need to know.

We'll have full lineup news and notes for you later today when the team takes the ice at United Center.
Nathan Beaulieu did not travel with the team to Colorado as he's dealing with an illness so we'll see if he's back. We'll also see if any other changes are in store following what Phil Housley called a "total team effort up and down the lineup" on Tuesday.
The Sabres will play the Blues on Sunday night in St. Louis before heading home for a game against Ottawa on Tuesday.

Road Crew takes Manhattan

The Buffalo Sabres Road Crew, presented by Delta Air Lines with supporting sponsor Dave & Adam's, will make its second Tour Stop of the 2017-18 season on Wednesday, Jan. 17 in New York City prior to the team's game against the Rangers on Jan. 18.
This Tour Stop will take place at McFadden's Saloon (
800 2nd Ave., New York, NY 10017
) from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 each, with all proceeds benefiting the Buffalo Sabres Foundation.
Fans can purchase tickets online here.
As part of the Road Crew program this season, Delta will again be sponsoring the "Fly You Home" promotion. Every fan who attends the event will have a chance to win two round-trip tickets home to Buffalo and two tickets to see the Sabres play at KeyBank Center during the 2017-18 season.
Fans attending the event will get the opportunity to meet Sabres alumni Rene Robert, Danny Gare and Rob Ray, as well as Sabres broadcaster Dan Dunleavy. More Sabres special guests will be announced at a later date.
The event will also include drink specials, Sabres trivia, giveaways, raffles and much more. Dave & Adam's will also be raffling off merchandise from their Jack Eichel Collection, which will include items signed by Eichel.
Everyone who purchases a ticket will receive an official Sabres Road Crew credential and lanyard.

Team Canada sets its preliminary roster for World Juniors

From Hockey Canada's press release…

Hockey Canada moved one step closer to finding out who will wear the red-and-white at the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship, as 32 players earned an invitation to Canada's National Junior Team Sport Chek Selection Camp in St. Catharines, Ont., Dec. 12-15.
The selection camp roster includes four goaltenders, 10 defencemen and 18 forwards.
Among the 32 players are seven returnees from last year's silver-medal team: goaltender Carter Hart (Sherwood Park, Alta./Everett, WHL); defencemen Jake Bean (Calgary/Calgary, WHL), Kale Clague (Lloydminster, Alta./Brandon, WHL), and Dante Fabbro (Coquitlam, B.C./Boston University, HE); and forwards Dillon Dubé (Cochrane, Alta./Kelowna, WHL), Michael McLeod (Mississauga, Ont./Mississauga, OHL), and Taylor Raddysh (Caledon, Ont./Erie, OHL).

Ticket packages and more info on the tournament (including details on the outdoor game between the U.S. and Canada on Dec. 29 at New Era Field) can be found at BuffaloWorldJuniors.com.