Preview: Sabres at Capitals

SABRES (9-10-5) at CAPITALS (13-7-3)
7 p.m. ET; CSN-DC, MSG-B, NHL.TV

Sabres team scope

Erik Burgdoerfer will make his NHL debut for the Buffalo Sabres after he was recalled from Rochester of the American League on Monday to replace the injured Taylor Fedun. Buffalo will play without four of its regular defensemen because of injuries, including Fedun, who is out because of a shoulder injury sustained against the Boston Bruins on Saturday. "The Sabres gave me an excellent opportunity this preseason to show that I can play at this level," Burgdoerfer said. "I kind of chalk it up to that. They gave me an opportunity. Thankfully I kind of ran with it, so hopefully it goes as well tonight as it did then." Goalie Robin Lehner will make his 18th start; he's 5-8-3 with a 2.38 goals-against average and .922 save percentage.

Capitals team scope

The Washington Capitals are 0-2-1 in their past three games, including a 2-1 shootout loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday. In an effort to spark production on the power play, coach Barry Trotz added Jay Beagle to the second power-play unit. Beagle typically is used as a penalty killer, but Trotz said he wanted a right-handed shot and a net-front presence on the second unit. "He deserves it," Trotz said. "We'll give him a shot. Got nothing to lose. He'll just play instinctively. The puck's going to end up in the blue paint at some point and that's where he's got to be really good." Braden Holtby will make his 19th start of the season.

Sabres projected lineup

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

Capitals projected lineup

Alex Ovechkin -- Nicklas Backstrom -- Marcus Johansson
Andre Burakovsky -- Evgeny Kuznetsov -- Jakub Vrana
Paul Carey -- Lars Eller -- Justin Williams
Daniel Winnik -- Jay Beagle -- Tom Wilson
Karl Alzner -- Matt Niskanen
Dmitry Orlov -- John Carlson
Brooks Orpik -- Taylor Chorney
Braden Holtby
Philipp Grubauer
Scratched:Brett Connolly, Nate Schmidt
Injured:T.J. Oshie (upper body)

Status report

Oshie participated in the morning skate but will not play Monday. Trotz said Oshie possibly could return this week but he is not yet cleared for contact. "I feel good," Oshie said. "We're making strides, we're testing it. Getting better each day. Today is the best day yet, so just feeling it out. Everything's positive so far." Chorney will replace Schmidt in the lineup. Winnik is in for Connolly. … Fedun didn't practice Sunday and is considered day to day. Sabres coach Dan Bylsma said Kulikov could return against the Capitals in Buffalo on Friday.

Who's hot

Eichel has four points in three games since returning from a high ankle sprain he sustained during the preseason. Reinhart has five points in his past four games. … Backstrom has three points in his past three games and leads the Capitals with 21.