MATCH: Penguins vs. Sabres
TIME: 7 p.m. EST
PLACE: KeyBank Center
TV: ROOT Sports
RADIO: 105.9 FM, the X
WHAT TO WATCH FOR:
Pittsburgh's magic number to clinch a playoff spot for the 11th straight season is 2. The Pens are also 1 point from reaching 100 for the 11th time in franchise history … The Pens face the Sabres for the 3rd and final time this season. Pittsburgh is 1-0-1 on the year against Buffalo, including a 4-3 overtime win in the last meeting on March 5 after trailing 3-0 in the game. Pittsburgh is 10-0-1 in its past 11 against the Sabres overall … The Pens are 7-1-1 in their last 9 games … Captain Sidney Crosby, who leads the NHL in goals with 40, has points in 23 of his last 25 games against the Sabres (11G-30A-41PTS). He was named the NHL's 2nd Star of the Week after posting 6 goals and 8 points … The Crosby, Conor Sheary and Jake Guentzel trio has posted 25 points (10G-15A) in the last 5 games … The Pens recalled Frank Corrado and Oskar Sundqvist from WBS. Corrado would be making his Pens' debut if he is in the lineup. Derrick Pouliot was re-assigned … Pittsburgh injuries: Trevor Daley (knee), Carl Hagelin (lower-body), Ron Hainsey (upper-body), Kris Letang (upper-body), Olli Maatta (hand), Evgeni Malkin (upper-body), Bryan Rust (upper-body) … Buffalo is playing on the backend of back-to-backs having defeated Detroit last night, 2-1 … Evander Kane has 16 points (5G-11) in 16 games against Pittsburgh, and 10 points 7G-3A) in his last 8 home games … Jack Eichel has 29 points (9G-20A) in his last 23 games … Goalie Robin Lehner has stopped 129 of 136 shots in his past 4 starts (.949%) … Buffalo injuries: Cody McCormick (blood clot), Johan Larsson (wrist), William Carrier (knee), Kyle Okposo (ribs), Dmitry Kulikov (upper-body), Cody Franson (undisclosed), Taylor Fedun (foot).
MORNING SKATE REPORT:
\All expected players were at the morning skate, as well as Rust.
\The Pens used the following workflow...
Guentzel-Crosby-Sheary
Wilson-Cullen-Kessel
Kunitz-Bonino-Hornqvist
Kuhnhackl-Sundqvist-Rowney
Cole-Ruhwedel
Dumoulin-Schultz
Streit-Corrado
Gaunce-(Rust)
*Matt Murray will start in goal.
