Canucks at Sabres preview

CANUCKS (10-6-1) at SABRES (8-6-2)
1 p.m. ET; SN360, SNE, SNW, SNP, MSG-B, NHL.TV

Pettersson, a forward selected No. 5 by Vancouver in the 2017 NHL Draft, leads NHL rookies with 10 goals and 17 points. He has nine points (five goals, four assists) in his past five games.
Dahlin, a fellow Swede who was selected No. 1 by Buffalo in the 2018 NHL Draft, is fifth among NHL rookie defensemen with five points (one goal, four assists).
The Canucks, 4-0-1 in their past five games, are coming off an 8-5 win at the Boston Bruins on Thursday. They have scored at least four goals in each of the four wins.
Rasmus Ristolainen scored at 1:38 of overtime to give Buffalo a 6-5 win against the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday. It was his fourth overtime goal for the Sabres, the most by a defenseman in their history.

Players to watch

Canucks center Bo Horvat had two goals and two assists against the Bruins. He has 11 points (six goals, five assists) in the past 11 games.

Sabres center Jack Eichel has 10 points (one goal, nine assists) in the past six games.

They said it

"It's more fun having him on the same team. He's good defensively and sometimes he plays like a forward, has amazing stick-handling. He brings a lot to his team. It's hard to play against him." -- Canucks forward Elias Pettersson on Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin
"They're very good hockey players. They're smart, they're instinctive, they use their ability and their instincts on the ice, and that's what makes them special players. Pettersson's having a heck of a year right now. He's got a great release. He just has a knack of being in the right spot at the right time." -- Sabres coach Phil Housley on Pettersson and Dahlin

Canucks projected lineup

Tim Schaller -- Bo Horvat -- Loui Eriksson
Nikolay Goldobin -- Elias Pettersson -- Jake Virtanen
Antoine Roussel -- Markus Granlund -- Tyler Motte
Darren Archibald -- Adam Gaudette -- Brendan Leipsic
Chris Tanev -- Derrick Pouliot
Ben Hutton -- Erik Gudbranson
Michael Del Zotto -- Troy Stecher
Jacob Markstrom
Richard Bachman
Scratched: Brendan Gaunce, Alex Biega
Injured: Alexander Edler (knee), Sven Baertschi (concussion), Jay Beagle (arm) Anders Nilsson (finger), Brandon Sutter (shoulder), Brock Boeser (groin)

Sabres projected lineup

Jeff Skinner -- Jack Eichel -- Jason Pominville
Vladimir Sobotka -- Evan Rodrigues -- Sam Reinhart
Conor Sheary -- Casey Mittelstadt -- Kyle Okposo
Patrik Berglund -- Johan Larsson -- Tage Thompson
Marco Scandella -- Rasmus Ristolainen
Jake McCabe -- Zach Bogosian
Nathan Beaulieu -- Rasmus Dahlin
Carter Hutton
Linus Ullmark
Scratched:Remi Elie, Casey Nelson, Zemgus Girgensons
Injured: Scott Wilson (ankle), Matt Hunwick (neck)

Status report

Thompson and Girgensons rotated at right wing at practice Friday. Housley said Thompson, who hasn't played since Oct. 30 against the Calgary Flames, will be a game-time decision with several players dealing with minor injuries.

Stat pack

Skinner needs three points to reach 400 in the NHL. … Eichel is four points away from 200 in the NHL.