Reinhart_Sabres

DEVILS (16-18-7) at SABRES (22-14-6)
7 p.m. ET; MSG-B, MSG, NHL.TV

Eichel (upper body) was on the ice for the morning skate but did not take line rushes. The 22-year-old center practiced Monday for the first time since he was injured against the New York Islanders on Dec. 31.
Reinhart, a 23-year-old forward, also skated without taking rushes after not practicing Monday because of an illness.
The Devils are 4-2-0 in their past six games and have allowed two goals or fewer in each of those wins. They've won six straight in Buffalo.

Players to watch

Devils forward Nico Hischier has 16 points (eight goals, eight assists) in his past 18 games, including goals in two straight and points in his past three.
Sabres forward Jeff Skinner has five points (three goals, two assists) in his past five games against New Jersey.

They said it

"We've done some good things. Our record isn't where it needs to be and where we would like it to be, but we feel like we have a strong group, we have a strong brotherhood, we have guys who really play the right way, we feel we have players really developing. Now we need to get some consistency with some players and in the way we want to play." -- Devils coach John Hynes
"Early in the season last year they outworked us. This is a team that prides itself on its work, just knowing John Hynes, who he is. They're going to come and work and they're going to keep it simple. They've been playing very good hockey lately." -- Sabres coach Phil Housley

Devils projected lineup
Sabres projected lineup
Status report

Blackwood participated in the morning skate. … Schneider and Johansson have started skating, but Schneider has not faced any shots. … Hall is expected to start skating soon. … The Sabres put Wilson on waivers to get him some games with Rochester of the American Hockey League. He has been out since Sept. 30.

Stat pack

Kinkaid is 3-0-0 with a 1.00 goals-against average and .964 save percentage against the Sabres. … Buffalo has lost four of five and is 2-5-1 in its past eight, scoring two goals or fewer in six of those games.