Sharpen Up: February 2, 2021 | Sabres face Islanders on national TV

Happy Groundhog Day!
A nor'easter hit Long Island yesterday, and today, the Buffalo Sabres will be in town.
The Sabres and New York Islanders will faceoff at 6 p.m. tonight at NYCB Live. The game can be seen nationally on NBCSN. Dan Dunleavy and Rob Ray can be heard on WGR 550.
The contest kicks off four-straight games on the road for Buffalo.
Here's what you need to know.

Monday's practice

The Sabres took the ice for practice at KeyBank Center yesterday. Sam Reinhart, who missed both games this past weekend with an upper-body injury, did not skate. He will, however, make the trip to Uniondale and could be available for tonight's game.
Casey Mittelstadt skated on a line with Jack Eichel and Victor Olofsson in Reinhart's absence on Sunday, and he did so again during Monday's session.
"I think his offseason program has helped increase his foot speed," Sabres coach Ralph Krueger said of Mittelstadt. "He looks lighter on his skates and has not at all sacrificed in the skill set that he has. So, what's important is he is definitely a future offensive threat, a power-play player, a playmaker with a scoring ability."
Here's how the team skated during drills. There's lots more to be read in yesterday's Practice Report:

37 Casey Mittelstadt - 9 Jack Eichel - 68 Victor Olofsson
4 Taylor Hall - 12 Eric Staal - 24 Dylan Cozens
13 Tobias Rieder - 20 Cody Eakin - 21 Kyle Okposo
53 Jeff Skinner - 27 Curtis Lazar - 15 Riley Sheahan
72 Tage Thompson
19 Jake McCabe - 55 Rasmus Ristolainen
26 Rasmus Dahlin - 62 Brandon Montour
33 Colin Miller - 10 Henri Jokiharju
44 Matt Irwin - 3 Will Borgen
35 Linus Ullmark
40 Carter Hutton
34 Jonas Johansson
Before practice, the team reassigned forwards Jean-Sebastien Dea and C.J. Smith from Rochester (AHL) to the taxi squad and reassigned forward Jack Quinn from the taxi squad to Rochester.
Dea and Smith had been participating in Amerks training camp as Rochester prepares for its first game of the season this weekend.
"They've had a really good camp here thus far with Seth Appert in Rochester and are both NHL experienced players we could inject at any time," Krueger said. "Both good skaters, energy players."
Quinn skated with the Amerks and shared his thoughts on the day with Amerks.com.
Watch: Youtube Video

Travel delays

Normally, the Sabres would fly out the day before a road game, but because of the snowstorm, the team will leave Tuesday morning. Krueger, however, doesn't see it as a distraction.
"We're trying to make this a positive," he said. "The guys can spend an afternoon at home [Monday] and we do a same-day trip. It'll be with early arrival, so we'll have time to activate in the hotel, which is right by the arena, walking distance away. … We are fine with it. Sometimes a shakeup or a mix-up kind of brings a refreshing entry into a road game. So, we've definitely embraced this situation."

Tonight's matchup

This is the first of eight meetings between the Sabres and Islanders this season.
The Sabres and Islanders have not played a game as divisional opponents since 1973-74, which was the Islanders' second season in the NHL.
Buffalo currently has the sixth-ranked power play in the league. The team has scored on 12 of its 39 power play opportunities this season for a 30.8 percent conversion rate.
Victor Olofsson enters today's game on a six-game point streak (2+5) that ties as the longest of his career. He has scored a goal in both of his previous road games against the Islanders.
Olofsson also leads the team and is tied for seventh in the league with three power-play goals this season. His team-high eight power-play points trail only Connor McDavid (10) and Leon Draisaitl (9).
And his 16 career power-play tallies trail only Draisaitl and David Pastrnak (20 each) for the most in the league since he made his NHL debut on March 28, 2019.
The Sabres rank second in the NHL with a team faceoff percentage of 55.9 percent.
For more stats and information, check out @SabresPR's Game Notes.

Reverse Retro schedule announced

The Sabres will wear their new Reverse Retro uniforms six times during the 2020-21 season:
The Reverse Retro jersey, modeled after the team's first third jersey that debuted during the 2000-01 season, features a crossed swords logo on the crest and the team's primary logo from 1996-2006 on the shoulders in an updated blue and gold color scheme.

Amerks reveal new 3rd jersey

Speaking of alternate uniforms, Rochester unveiled their special jersey to commemorate the team's 65th season:
Watch: Youtube Video
The jerseys will be worn for all eight of the Amerks' televised games on CW Rochester this season, beginning on Opening Night when Rochester hosts the Utica Comets on Friday, Feb. 5 at The Blue Cross Arena.
The jersey was inspired by the one worn during the team's first Calder Cup championship season of 1964-65. The timeless red jerseys pay tribute to the early years of the franchise and feature the classic stars and stripes shield on the front outlined in black, with a thicker black border enveloping the right side of the crest to create a shadow effect.

Around the East

Two games in the East Division last night:
The New Rangers scored twice in the third period to defeat the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-1 on home ice. Chris Kreider's power-play goal was the difference.
And the Boston Bruins scored five unanswered goals to rally back from a 3-0 deficit and beat the Washington Capitals 5-3 at Capital One Arena. David Pastrnak scored twice and Jaroslav Halak made 23 saves in net.
The New Jersey Devils, meanwhile, added four players to their COVID-protocol list yesterday and their practice facility will be shut down until further notice. New Jersey was just in town on Saturday and Sunday to play Buffalo.
Devils forwards Andreas Johnsson, Janne Kuokkanen, Michael McLeod and Pavel Zacha were placed on the NHL COVID-19 protocol list Monday. Also on it are goalies Mackenzie Blackwood and Aaron Dell, defensemen Connor Carrick and Sami Vatanen, and forwards Travis Zajac and Kyle Palmieri.
Johnsson, Kuokkanen, McLeod, Zacha and Palmieri all played in Buffalo this past weekend.
As of now, all of New Jersey's games through Saturday have been postponed. Twelve games have been postponed since the NHL season began, with two others postponed prior to the start.
The Capitals and Philadelphia Flyers are currently tied atop the East standings with 15 points each. The Bruins are just a point behind.
With a win, Buffalo would have 12 points, allowing them to jump ahead of New Jersey and Pittsburgh for fourth place in the division, which is a playoff position this year.

Stay connected

Be sure to check in with Sabres.com, our social media channels and the new Sabres app throughout the day for game updates. We got you.

Happy Groundhog Day!
A nor'easter hit Long Island yesterday, and today, the Buffalo Sabres will be in town.
The Sabres and New York Islanders will faceoff at 6 p.m. tonight at NYCB Live. The game can be seen nationally on NBCSN. Dan Dunleavy and Rob Ray can be heard on WGR 550.
The contest kicks off four-straight games on the road for Buffalo.
Here's what you need to know.

Monday's practice

The Sabres took the ice for practice at KeyBank Center yesterday. Sam Reinhart, who missed both games this past weekend with an upper-body injury, did not skate. He will, however, make the trip to Uniondale and could be available for tonight's game.
Casey Mittelstadt skated on a line with Jack Eichel and Victor Olofsson in Reinhart's absence on Sunday, and he did so again during Monday's session.
"I think his offseason program has helped increase his foot speed," Sabres coach Ralph Krueger said of Mittelstadt. "He looks lighter on his skates and has not at all sacrificed in the skill set that he has. So, what's important is he is definitely a future offensive threat, a power-play player, a playmaker with a scoring ability."
Here's how the team skated during drills. There's lots more to be read in yesterday's Practice Report:

37 Casey Mittelstadt - 9 Jack Eichel - 68 Victor Olofsson
4 Taylor Hall - 12 Eric Staal - 24 Dylan Cozens
13 Tobias Rieder - 20 Cody Eakin - 21 Kyle Okposo
53 Jeff Skinner - 27 Curtis Lazar - 15 Riley Sheahan
72 Tage Thompson
19 Jake McCabe - 55 Rasmus Ristolainen
26 Rasmus Dahlin - 62 Brandon Montour
33 Colin Miller - 10 Henri Jokiharju
44 Matt Irwin - 3 William Borgen
35 Linus Ullmark
40 Carter Hutton
34 Jonas Johansson
Before practice, the team reassigned forwards Jean-Sebastien Dea and C.J. Smith from Rochester (AHL) to the taxi squad and reassigned forward Jack Quinn from the taxi squad to Rochester.
Dea and Smith had been participating in Amerks training camp as Rochester prepares for its first game of the season this weekend.
"They've had a really good camp here thus far with Seth Appert in Rochester and are both NHL experienced players we could inject at any time," Krueger said. "Both good skaters, energy players."
Quinn skated with the Amerks and shared his thoughts on the day with Amerks.com.
Watch: Youtube Video

Travel delays

Normally, the Sabres would fly out the day before a road game, but because of the snowstorm, the team will leave Tuesday morning. Krueger, however, doesn't see it as a distraction.
"We're trying to make this a positive," he said. "The guys can spend an afternoon at home [Monday] and we do a same-day trip. It'll be with early arrival, so we'll have time to activate in the hotel, which is right by the arena, walking distance away. … We are fine with it. Sometimes a shakeup or a mix-up kind of brings a refreshing entry into a road game. So, we've definitely embraced this situation."

Tonight's matchup

This is the first of eight meetings between the Sabres and Islanders this season.
The Sabres and Islanders have not played a game as divisional opponents since 1973-74, which was the Islanders' second season in the NHL.
Buffalo currently has the sixth-ranked power play in the league. The team has scored on 12 of its 39 power play opportunities this season for a 30.8 percent conversion rate.
Victor Olofsson enters today's game on a six-game point streak (2+5) that ties as the longest of his career. He has scored a goal in both of his previous road games against the Islanders.
Olofsson also leads the team and is tied for seventh in the league with three power-play goals this season. His team-high eight power-play points trail only Connor McDavid (10) and Leon Draisaitl (9).
And his 16 career power-play tallies trail only Draisaitl and David Pastrnak (20 each) for the most in the league since he made his NHL debut on March 28, 2019.
The Sabres rank second in the NHL with a team faceoff percentage of 55.9 percent.
For more stats and information, check out @SabresPR's Game Notes.

Reverse Retro schedule announced

The Sabres will wear their new Reverse Retro uniforms six times during the 2020-21 season:
The Reverse Retro jersey, modeled after the team's first third jersey that debuted during the 2000-01 season, features a crossed swords logo on the crest and the team's primary logo from 1996-2006 on the shoulders in an updated blue and gold color scheme.

Amerks reveal new 3rd jersey

Speaking of alternate uniforms, Rochester unveiled their special jersey to commemorate the team's 65th season:
Watch: Youtube Video
The jerseys will be worn for all eight of the Amerks' televised games on CW Rochester this season, beginning on Opening Night when Rochester hosts the Utica Comets on Friday, Feb. 5 at The Blue Cross Arena.
The jersey was inspired by the one worn during the team's first Calder Cup championship season of 1964-65. The timeless red jerseys pay tribute to the early years of the franchise and feature the classic stars and stripes shield on the front outlined in black, with a thicker black border enveloping the right side of the crest to create a shadow effect.

Around the East

Two games in the East Division last night:
The New Rangers scored twice in the third period to defeat the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-1 on home ice. Chris Kreider's power-play goal was the difference.
And the Boston Bruins scored five unanswered goals to rally back from a 3-0 deficit and beat the Washington Capitals 5-3 at Capital One Arena. David Pastrnak scored twice and Jaroslav Halak made 23 saves in net.
The New Jersey Devils, meanwhile, added four players to their COVID-protocol list yesterday and their practice facility will be shut down until further notice. New Jersey was just in town on Saturday and Sunday to play Buffalo.
Devils forwards Andreas Johnsson, Janne Kuokkanen, Michael McLeod and Pavel Zacha were placed on the NHL COVID-19 protocol list Monday. Also on it are goalies Mackenzie Blackwood and Aaron Dell, defensemen Connor Carrick and Sami Vatanen, and forwards Travis Zajac and Kyle Palmieri.
Johnsson, Kuokkanen, McLeod, Zacha and Palmieri all played in Buffalo this past weekend.
As of now, all of New Jersey's games through Saturday have been postponed. Twelve games have been postponed since the NHL season began, with two others postponed prior to the start.
The Capitals and Philadelphia Flyers are currently tied atop the East standings with 15 points each. The Bruins are just a point behind.
With a win, Buffalo would have 12 points, allowing them to jump ahead of New Jersey and Pittsburgh for fourth place in the division, which is a playoff position this year.

Stay connected

Be sure to check in with Sabres.com, our social media channels and the new Sabres app throughout the day for game updates. We got you.

Happy Groundhog Day!
A nor'easter hit Long Island yesterday, and today, the Buffalo Sabres will be in town.
The Sabres and New York Islanders will faceoff at 6 p.m. tonight at NYCB Live. The game can be seen nationally on NBCSN. Dan Dunleavy and Rob Ray can be heard on WGR 550.
The contest kicks off four-straight games on the road for Buffalo.
Here's what you need to know.

Monday's practice

The Sabres took the ice for practice at KeyBank Center yesterday. Sam Reinhart, who missed both games this past weekend with an upper-body injury, did not skate. He will, however, make the trip to Uniondale and could be available for tonight's game.
Casey Mittelstadt skated on a line with Jack Eichel and Victor Olofsson in Reinhart's absence on Sunday, and he did so again during Monday's session.
"I think his offseason program has helped increase his foot speed," Sabres coach Ralph Krueger said of Mittelstadt. "He looks lighter on his skates and has not at all sacrificed in the skill set that he has. So, what's important is he is definitely a future offensive threat, a power-play player, a playmaker with a scoring ability."
Here's how the team skated during drills. There's lots more to be read in yesterday's Practice Report:

37 Casey Mittelstadt - 9 Jack Eichel - 68 Victor Olofsson
4 Taylor Hall - 12 Eric Staal - 24 Dylan Cozens
13 Tobias Rieder - 20 Cody Eakin - 21 Kyle Okposo
53 Jeff Skinner - 27 Curtis Lazar - 15 Riley Sheahan
72 Tage Thompson
19 Jake McCabe - 55 Rasmus Ristolainen
26 Rasmus Dahlin - 62 Brandon Montour
33 Colin Miller - 10 Henri Jokiharju
44 Matt Irwin - 3 William Borgen
35 Linus Ullmark
40 Carter Hutton
34 Jonas Johansson
Before practice, the team reassigned forwards Jean-Sebastien Dea and C.J. Smith from Rochester (AHL) to the taxi squad and reassigned forward Jack Quinn from the taxi squad to Rochester.
Dea and Smith had been participating in Amerks training camp as Rochester prepares for its first game of the season this weekend.
"They've had a really good camp here thus far with Seth Appert in Rochester and are both NHL experienced players we could inject at any time," Krueger said. "Both good skaters, energy players."
Quinn skated with the Amerks and shared his thoughts on the day with Amerks.com.
Watch: Youtube Video

Travel delays

Normally, the Sabres would fly out the day before a road game, but because of the snowstorm, the team will leave Tuesday morning. Krueger, however, doesn't see it as a distraction.
"We're trying to make this a positive," he said. "The guys can spend an afternoon at home [Monday] and we do a same-day trip. It'll be with early arrival, so we'll have time to activate in the hotel, which is right by the arena, walking distance away. … We are fine with it. Sometimes a shakeup or a mix-up kind of brings a refreshing entry into a road game. So, we've definitely embraced this situation."

Tonight's matchup

This is the first of eight meetings between the Sabres and Islanders this season.
The Sabres and Islanders have not played a game as divisional opponents since 1973-74, which was the Islanders' second season in the NHL.
Buffalo currently has the sixth-ranked power play in the league. The team has scored on 12 of its 39 power play opportunities this season for a 30.8 percent conversion rate.
Victor Olofsson enters today's game on a six-game point streak (2+5) that ties as the longest of his career. He has scored a goal in both of his previous road games against the Islanders.
Olofsson also leads the team and is tied for seventh in the league with three power-play goals this season. His team-high eight power-play points trail only Connor McDavid (10) and Leon Draisaitl (9).
And his 16 career power-play tallies trail only Draisaitl and David Pastrnak (20 each) for the most in the league since he made his NHL debut on March 28, 2019.
The Sabres rank second in the NHL with a team faceoff percentage of 55.9 percent.
For more stats and information, check out @SabresPR's Game Notes.

Reverse Retro schedule announced

The Sabres will wear their new Reverse Retro uniforms six times during the 2020-21 season:
The Reverse Retro jersey, modeled after the team's first third jersey that debuted during the 2000-01 season, features a crossed swords logo on the crest and the team's primary logo from 1996-2006 on the shoulders in an updated blue and gold color scheme.

Amerks reveal new 3rd jersey

Speaking of alternate uniforms, Rochester unveiled their special jersey to commemorate the team's 65th season:
Watch: Youtube Video
The jerseys will be worn for all eight of the Amerks' televised games on CW Rochester this season, beginning on Opening Night when Rochester hosts the Utica Comets on Friday, Feb. 5 at The Blue Cross Arena.
The jersey was inspired by the one worn during the team's first Calder Cup championship season of 1964-65. The timeless red jerseys pay tribute to the early years of the franchise and feature the classic stars and stripes shield on the front outlined in black, with a thicker black border enveloping the right side of the crest to create a shadow effect.

Around the East

Two games in the East Division last night:
The New Rangers scored twice in the third period to defeat the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-1 on home ice. Chris Kreider's power-play goal was the difference.
And the Boston Bruins scored five unanswered goals to rally back from a 3-0 deficit and beat the Washington Capitals 5-3 at Capital One Arena. David Pastrnak scored twice and Jaroslav Halak made 23 saves in net.
The New Jersey Devils, meanwhile, added four players to their COVID-protocol list yesterday and their practice facility will be shut down until further notice. New Jersey was just in town on Saturday and Sunday to play Buffalo.
Devils forwards Andreas Johnsson, Janne Kuokkanen, Michael McLeod and Pavel Zacha were placed on the NHL COVID-19 protocol list Monday. Also on it are goalies Mackenzie Blackwood and Aaron Dell, defensemen Connor Carrick and Sami Vatanen, and forwards Travis Zajac and Kyle Palmieri.
Johnsson, Kuokkanen, McLeod, Zacha and Palmieri all played in Buffalo this past weekend.
As of now, all of New Jersey's games through Saturday have been postponed. Twelve games have been postponed since the NHL season began, with two others postponed prior to the start.
The Capitals and Philadelphia Flyers are currently tied atop the East standings with 15 points each. The Bruins are just a point behind.
With a win, Buffalo would have 12 points, allowing them to jump ahead of New Jersey and Pittsburgh for fourth place in the division, which is a playoff position this year.

Stay connected

Be sure to check in with Sabres.com, our social media channels and the new Sabres app throughout the day for game updates. We got you.