Preview: Bruins at Sabres

BRUINS (13-10-1) at SABRES (9-9-5)
1 p.m. ET; SN, MSG-B, NESN, NHL.TV

#

Bruins team scope

The Boston Bruins won't have defenseman Zdeno Chara against the Buffalo Sabres. Chara (lower body) and forward Noel Acciari (lower body) did not travel to Buffalo. Chara, Boston's captain, was injured Nov. 22 against the St. Louis Blues and has missed five games; however, he did practice Friday. Center Patrice Bergeron did not practice but traveled to Buffalo. Ryan Spooner took Bergeron's spot between Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak at practice, and the Bruins recalled forward Anton Blidh from Providence of the American Hockey League. Blidh would be making his NHL debut. Boston has won two of the past three games and shut out the Sabres 4-0 on Nov. 7 in Boston.

Sabres team scope

The Sabres may be without defenseman Josh Gorges, who skated before practice Friday but not during it. "[Gorges] took a shot in the game last night and obviously tried it today," coach Dan Bylsma said. "He got an X-ray after the game last night (a 4-3 win against the New York Rangers), he's going to get some more testing on it today. … We're just kind of waiting to see the results of the next test." Buffalo recalled defenseman Brendan Guhle from Prince George of the Western Hockey League on an emergency basis. Guhle will make his NHL debut. Goalie Robin Lehner will start after he missed the game against the Rangers with a hip injury sustained in a 5-4 win against the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday. The Sabres are looking to win three in a row for the second time.

#

Bruins projected lineup

Brad Marchand -- Patrice Bergeron -- David Pastrnak
Tim Schaller -- David Krejci -- David Backes
Matt Beleskey -- Riley Nash -- Austin Czarnik
Ryan Spooner -- Dominic Moore -- Jimmy Hayes
Torey Krug -- Adam McQuaid
Kevan Miller -- Brandon Carlo
Joe Morrow -- Colin Miller
Tuukka Rask
Anton Khudobin
Scratched: Anton Blidh
Injured: Zdeno Chara (lower body), Noel Acciari (lower body), John-Michael Liles (concussion)

Sabres projected lineup

Matt Moulson -- Ryan O'Reilly -- Kyle Okposo
Evander Kane -- Jack Eichel -- Sam Reinhart
Marcus Foligno -- Johan Larsson -- Brian Gionta
William Carrier -- Derek Grant -- Zemgus Girgensons
Jake McCabe -- Rasmus Ristolainen
Brendan Guhle -- Cody Franson
Justin Falk -- Taylor Fedun
Robin Lehner
Anders Nilsson
Scratched: None
Injured: Josh Gorges (foot), Dmitry Kulikov (lower back), Tyler Ennis (groin), Zach Bogosian (knee), Nicolas Deslauriers (knee), Cody McCormick (blood clots)

Status report

Neither team skated Saturday morning. … Blidh has five goals and four assists in 19 games for Providence. … Guhle has five goals and two assists in 19 WHL games this season with Prince Albert and Prince George.

Who's hot

Eichel has three goals and an assist in his first two games this season. … Krug has five assists during a three-game streak. … Backes has two goals in the past three games. … Reinhart has two goals and two assists the past three games. … Okposo has one goal and three assists in the past three games.