Preview: Sabres at Panthers

SABRES (12-11-7) at PANTHERS (14-13-5)
7:30 p.m. ET; FS-F, MSG-B, NHL.TV

Sabres team scope

Defenseman Dmitry Kulikov will be playing at BB&T Center for the first time since the Buffalo Sabres acquired him from the Florida Panthers on June 25 for defenseman Mark Pysyk in a trade that also involved three picks in the 2016 NHL Draft. Kulikov had been the longest-tenured player on the Panthers roster. "The rink is the same, but the entrance was a bit different," said Kulikov, who was Florida's first-round pick (No. 14) in the 2009 draft. "Right now it doesn't feel weird, but I'm sure when I step out for the warmups it'll be a little emotional seeing the fans that I played for so long in front of." Kulikov will play in his fifth game since returning after a 13-game absence with a back injury. "I really think since his first game he's played a number of strong games for us," coach Dan Bylsma said. "He's really made a difference with his skating and his ability to defend on the back end for us since he's come back." The Sabres are 3-1-1 in their past five games, including a 2-1 shootout loss at the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday. Bylsma is one victory away from becoming the 47th coach in NHL history with 300 regular-season wins. He'll be coaching his 514th game; a victory would make him the second-fastest to reach 300 victories behind Bruce Boudreau (496).

Panthers team scope

Forward Jonathan Marchessault, who has missed six of the past seven games because of a lower-body injury, is confident he'll be in the lineup. Coach Tom Rowe said Marchessault would be a game-time decision. Marchessault leads the Panthers with 10 goals and is second to Aleksander Barkov with 20 points. "Obviously I think I'm ready to go," Marchessault said. "I just want to be back with my teammates and be able to get some wins here." If Marchessault plays, he'll skate on a line with Denis Malgin and Jussi Jokinen. The Panthers are beginning a stretch of five consecutive games and eight out of nine at home. "The schedule was hard for us at the beginning of the year," Marchessault said. "Now we have the chance to show the League what kind of team we are." Forward Jaromir Jagr enters the game needing three points to tie Mark Messier (1,887) for second place on the NHL's all-time list.

Sabres projected lineup

Matt Moulson -- Jack Eichel -- Kyle Okposo
Marcus Foligno -- Ryan O'Reilly -- Sam Reinhart
Evander Kane -- Johan Larsson -- Brian Gionta
William Carrier -- Zemgus Girgensons -- Nicolas Deslauriers
Jake McCabe -- Rasmus Ristolainen
Dmitry Kulikov -- Zach Bogosian
Josh Gorges -- Cody Franson
Robin Lehner
Anders Nilsson
Scratched:Derek Grant, Justin Falk
Injured:Cody McCormick (blood clots), Tyler Ennis (groin)

Panthers projected lineup

Seth Griffith -- Aleksander Barkov - Jaromir Jagr
Reilly Smith -- Vincent Trocheck -- Colton Sceviour
Jussi Jokinen -- Denis Malgin -- Jonathan Marchessault
Shawn Thornton -- Derek MacKenzie -- Nick Bjugstad
Keith Yandle -- Jason Demers
Jakub Kindl -- Aaron Ekblad
Mike Matheson -- Mark Pysyk
Roberto Luongo
James Reimer
Scratched:Kyle Rau, Paul Thompson, Dylan McIlrath
Injured:Jonathan Huberdeau (lower leg), Alexander Petrovic (ankle)

Status report

Bylsma said he would decide near game time who will skate on the fourth line. Lehner will start for the fourth time in five games. … Bjugstad will be moved to the fourth line if Marchessault is in the lineup. Bjugstad, who led the Panthers in goals in 2015-16 with 24, has no goals and an assist in 13 games since returning from a wrist injury he sustained in the preseason. Luongo, who is one victory away from tying Terry Sawchuk (447) for fifth place all-time, will start after James Reimer made 30 saves in a 3-1 win at the Colorado Avalanche on Friday.

Who's hot

Ristolainen has 12 points (two goals, 10 assists) in his past 10 games. … Barkov has seven points (three goals, four assists) in his past seven games. Florida's penalty kill is ranked first in the NHL since Nov. 29 (34 of 36, 94.4 percent).