Calgary Flames @ Buffalo Sabres, 5 PM MT, KeyBank Center, Buffalo NY

TV: SNW - Radio: Sportsnet 960

Calgary Flames 11-12-4 (26 pts) - Buffalo Sabres 11-10-3 (25 pts)

NHL Standings

Despite all that is going on with the Flames off the ice, there is still hockey to be played on the ice. The Flames will make their only regular season stop in Buffalo tonight as the Flames reach the end of a four game road trip that has been anything but easy.

Put the Bill Peters stuff aside, this four game trek has seen the Flames play slightly better, but they’ve only been able to collect one victory so far. That was a 3-2 SOW over the Flyers last Saturday, which snapped a six game losing streak. Calgary still has a ways to go as they have dropped seven of their last ten. Making matters more confounding is the fact that Calgary’s Bill Peters will not be on the bench tonight. He will be replaced by Geoff Ward while the Flames investigate the claims being leveled against Bill Peters.

Ok, back to hockey. The Buffalo Sabres are riding an up and down season for sure so far in 2019. Buffalo started off 9-2-1 and were the talk of the Eastern Conference as the season got underway. But like most things in life, water seeks it’s own level and it’s been a nightmare since. Since Buffalo beat Detroit 2-0 back on October 25th the Sabres have gone 2-7-2 and have sunk towards the bottom of the Atlantic Division. Buffalo’s offence hasn’t been overly strong this season, but in seven of their recent losses they’ve scored less than three goals seven times.

On the bright side, Jack Eichel is having a fantastic season. The Chelmsford MA native has 30 points, leading the team and has 4 PPG already. The Sabres goaltending, in spite of this recent slump has been one of the other highlights for Buffalo. Both Carter Hutton and Linus Ullmark have identical GAA at 2.91 and their Save% are both above .900. The two combined have faced 770 shots and allowed 72 goals.

The Flames tend to struggle in Buffalo, going 3-7-0 in their last 10 visits. They have, however, won two straight when visiting the Sabres and have outscored them 7-2 in those two games.

Starting Goalies (E=Expected,C=Confirmed)

Flames: Rittich (E)- 10-7-4, 2.80 GAA, .912 Save%

Sabres: Ullmark (E)- 5-5-1, 2.91 GAA, .915 Save%

Team Leaders

Flames: Goals: Lindholm (11) Points: Tkachuk (21) PIM: Lucic (34) Save%: Rittich (.912)

Sabres: Goals: Eichel (14) Points: Eichel (30) PIM: Ristolainen (26) Save%: Ullmark (.915)

What’s Happening With The Opposition?

Buffalo Sabres Coverage: Die By The Blade

Last Time Out

Calgary Flames 2 - Pittsburgh Penguins 3 (OT)

Buffalo Sabres 2 - Tampa Bay Lightning 5

Players To Watch

Calgary Flames

Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Andrew Mangiapane (F): 2 goals in last 4 games

Buffalo Sabres

Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

Jack Eichel (C): 7 points in last 5 games