Need to Know: Bruins at Sabres

BUFFALO - The Bruins will be aiming for their sixth straight win on Thursday night when they visit the Buffalo Sabres for the middle game of a three-game set at KeyBank Center. Jeremy Swayman will get the start in goal, while Steven Kampfer is set to sub in for Jakub Zboril on the back end.
"I think our team knows how valuable the points are," said Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy. "For us, we're just looking at, 'Hey, it's another game now.' Not necessarily that it's Buffalo two out of three, and tomorrow will be three out of three, and let's get on to the next.
"I think our guys are pretty focused - or should be right now. 'Who we got tonight? Buffalo…yeah, we need the two points. How we gonna do that? How do we play to our strengths, expose their weaknesses, etcetera?
"That's kind of the mentality now that, I believe, we have and should have."
Here's everything else you need to know for the 7 p.m. puck drop on NESN+ and 98.5 The Sports Hub:

Miller Eyeing Friday

After missing the last four games with an undisclosed injury, Kevan Miller is expected to be back in the lineup on Friday night for the finale of this three-game set in Buffalo. The blue liner took part in Thursday's morning skate but will take another day before returning.
"I think he'll play [on Friday. That's the plan right now," said Cassidy. "He wasn't going to play back-to-backs, we looked at [Friday] versus tonight and we'll go from there. Hopefully we're able to do that, he was out on the ice this morning getting a little work. Should be good to go [Friday]."

Kase Still Skating

Ondrej Kase has not played since Jan. 16 after leaving the second game of the season with an upper-body injury, the result of a high hit from New Jersey Devils forward Miles Wood early in that contest. The winger has been skating off and on for the last couple of months but has yet to join his teammates for practice.
Cassidy believes that the 25-year-old has made progress but is unsure of when he would be ready for a return to game action.
"I'd like to say he has [made progress] because he's skating, he's working out every day and seems to be progressing…or not regressing, I guess, is a better way to put it," said Cassidy. "Until he gets out with us, and we see him live with a group, it's harder to say. I don't have a great answer for you to predict the future on him.
"Obviously, we're running out of racetrack, so to speak, to get him in the lineup here. Not going to join us on this trip, but maybe when we get home there will be some positive news for him.
"He would need some games obviously to get up to speed. It's been a long time. We'd have to factor in that, but it'd be nice to have that option."
Cassidy said that despite his extended absence, Kase remains in good spirits around the rink.
"He's in and out. Skates at sometimes different times," said Cassidy. "But at the end of the day, he seems in good spirits when you do sort of pass him in the hallway and he's finished his skate, we're going out with ours."

Taking Their Shot

Cassidy said that he opted to make Wednesday's practice in Buffalo an optional skate to give the players the opportunity to rest after a number of them received their COVID-19 vaccines following Tuesday night's game.
"We had some guys that did get the vaccine, I can't give you the exact numbers, but a number of guys got them," said Cassidy. "Some were feeling better than others, coming out of it, after the game. We allowed them to make the decision - if you're not feeling right then get out of here and get ready for [Thursday]. So, it was a little bit of that."

By the Numbers

• Charlie Coyle is one point shy of his 300th NHL point.
• David Pastrnak is three goals short of his 200th NHL goal.
• The Bruins visit the Sabres tonight in the fifth of eight games between these teams this season and the third of four at KeyBank Center.
• The Bruins have matched their longest win streak of the season at five straight games, outscoring opponents 18-6 with a 1.18 goals against average in that span, including shutouts in two of their last three games.
• They are 8-2-1 in their last 11 games and are 12-4-2 in their last 18 games overall.

Thursday's Projected Lineup

FORWARDS
Brad Marchand - Patrice Bergeron - David Pastrnak
Taylor Hall - David Krejci - Craig Smith
Nick Ritchie - Charlie Coyle - Jake DeBrusk
Sean Kuraly - Curtis Lazar - Chris Wagner
DEFENSEMEN
Matt Grzelcyk - Charlie McAvoy
Mike Reilly - Connor Clifton
Jeremy Lauzon - Steven Kampfer
GOALIES
Jeremy Swayman
Jaroslav Halak