Sharpen Up: February 19, 2018

The Sabres and Capitals will go head to head today at KeyBank Center. It's a 3 p.m. faceoff and Buffalo will be suited up in their Winter Classic-themed uniforms. If you're coming to the game, don't miss out on the Winter Classic jersey towel giveaway when you walk in.
Watching from home? The GMC Game Night pregame show starts at 2:30 on MSG. Then at 3, RJ and Rayzor will have a unique perspective as they'll be calling the game from Section 108 today.
Here's what you need to know.

Ullmark is up

Robin Lehner is listed as day-to-day with a lower-body injury so Linus Ullmark has been recalled from the Rochester Americans.

Ullmark joins the Sabres for his second recall of the season after stopping 44 of 45 shots faced in a 3-1 win against Columbus on Jan. 11 in his only NHL appearance of the season. He has recorded an 18-9-10 record in 36 AHL games this season, posting career-best numbers in save percentage (.924) and goals-against average (2.43) in his third AHL season.
Selected by the Sabres in the sixth round (163rd overall) of the 2012 NHL Draft, Ullmark has a 9-11-2 record with a .918 save percentage and a 2.55 goals-against average in 22 career NHL games.
He stopped 29 of 30 shots in last night's loss to Binghamton, including two of three in the shootout,

Sunday's practice

The Sabres are looking to rebound from a 4-2 loss to the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday. From the Ice Level Practice Report..
For 20 minutes on Saturday afternoon, the Buffalo Sabres looked like a team to be reckoned with. They outshot the Los Angeles Kings 18-6 and outscored them 2-0. It was the type of performance that could have won them a game, had it begun 40 minutes sooner.
What changed in the third period of that loss to the Kings, a game they trailed 4-0 by the second intermission? According to Nathan Beaulieu, it had a lot to do with emotion.
"We played pissed off," Beaulieu said. "We need to start games like that. Guys are angry, guys are mad. That's kind of the mindset you need to go into the game. It's not something you can just teach, you can't just get pissed off. But we need to have that mindset.
"It shouldn't have to take four goals against and your goalie getting pulled to start that. It's frustrating but the only thing you can do is learn from it."
With another playoff-caliber opponent coming to town for another afternoon game on Monday, the Sabres returned to KeyBank Center on Sunday morning in preparation for their game against the Washington Capitals.

Like he did prior to their game against the Kings, who came into Buffalo on a three-game losing streak, Sabres coach Phil Housley said to expect a strong push from their opponent on Monday. That Capitals, clinging to a one-point lead in the Metropolitan Division, are coming off a 7-1 loss in Chicago.
The Sabres played well in their first matchup with the Capitals this season, a 3-1 win in Buffalo on Nov. 7.
"Passion and emotion is a great tool," Housley said. "I think we have to have more emotion. I think we need to play with more passion. I thought we had a really good game against Washington last time we played them here. We're going to try to use some of those examples, why we played the way we did, and we have to prepare that way. I just think we have to control what we can control."
Stay tuned for news and lineup notes later this morning when Housley addresses the media.

Today's matchup

Buffalo will take on the Capitals twice this week. They'll be in Washington on Saturday.
From the Game Notes…
- Ryan O'Reilly has recorded 18 points (9+9) in his last 18 games. - Sam Reinhart has totaled 16 points (6+10) in his last 15 games. - Rasmus Ristolainen has 18 points (4+13) in his last 22 games dating back to Dec. 29. Ristolainen's 18 points during that span tied for fourth among NHL defensemen entering play Sunday. - Kyle Okposo has recorded 16 points (3+13) in his last 17 games, including four multi-point games.