Preview: Sabres at Coyotes

SABRES (26-25-10) at COYOTES (21-32-7)
8:30 p.m. ET; FS-A, MSG-B, NHL.TV

Sabres team scope

The Buffalo Sabres have lost two straight following a three-game winning streak. They're seven points behind the Toronto Maple Leafs for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Eastern Conference and eight behind the Boston Bruins for third place in the Atlantic Division. "We have 21 (games) left now," coach Dan Bylsma told the Buffalo News after a 5-3 loss to the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday. "We know we have to win 15 of them to get back in this thing, to get to a mark where we may be able to get in the playoffs." Goalie Robin Lehner could make his ninth straight start. The Sabres have won six straight games against the Arizona Coyotes at Gila River Arena.

Coyotes team scope

Goalie Louis Domingue will make his second straight start for the Coyotes. "It's a very good opportunity for him," coach Dave Tippett said. "He's been looking to play more minutes and we hope he can play better. Mike is still a little under the weather so we'll give him an extra day and see what Louis can do. Mike could play if he had to but we don't want to put him in a bad situation." Domingue made 32 saves in a 5-2 loss against the Dallas Stars on Friday and will make back-to-back starts for the first time since Nov. 10-12. "It's been a little bit since I've played at home (Jan. 14) and it's easier to turn the page (on a loss) when you get a chance to play right away," he said. Forward Alexander Burmistrov will miss the game with an upper-body injury sustained against Dallas.

Sabres projected lineup

Justin Bailey -- Ryan O'Reilly -- Kyle Okposo
Evander Kane -- Jack Eichel -- Sam Reinhart
Marcus Foligno -- Zemgus Girgensons -- Brian Gionta
Matt Moulson -- Evan Rodrigues -- Tyler Ennis
Jake McCabe -- Rasmus Ristolainen
Dmitry Kulikov -- Zach Bogosian
Josh Gorges -- Cody Franson
Robin Lehner
Anders Nilsson
Scratched:Nicholas Baptiste, Nicolas Deslauriers, Justin Falk
Injured:William Carrier (knee), Johan Larsson (wrist)

Coyotes projected lineup

Max Domi -- Martin Hanzal -- Radim Vrbata
Brendan Perlini -- Christian Dvorak -- Shane Doan
Jamie McGinn -- Peter Holland -- Tobias Rieder
Lawson Crouse -- Jordan Martinook -- Ryan White
Oliver Ekman-Larsson -- Connor Murphy
Alex Goligoski -- Anthony DeAngelo
Jakob Chychrun -- Luke Schenn
Louis Domingue
Mike Smith
Scratched:Kevin Connauton, Josh Jooris
Injured:Alexander Burmistrov (upper body), Brad Richardson (broken leg)

Status report

Holland replaces Burmistrov and centers a line with McGinn and Rieder, who moves to the right side. ... Richardson, who has been out since Nov. 17, took part in his first team practice Sunday wearing a non-contact jersey. ... The Sabres did not skate in Arizona on Sunday.

Who's hot

Kane has seven of his team-leading 21 goals and an assist in his past eight games. ... Eichel has five assists during a five-game point streak and 12 points (one goal, 11 assists) in his past 11 games. ... Ristolainen has six assists during a six-game point streak. ... Vrbata has a goal in three straight games and an NHL career-high, eight-game point streak (three goals, six assists), the longest current streak in the NHL. His is two points away from 600 in his NHL career. ... Hanzal has six goals and an assist in his past eight games. ... Goligoski has five assists in his past five games. ... Domi has three assists during a three-game point streak.