Simmonds, traded to Buffalo by the New Jersey Devils on Monday, will play right wing on a line with left wing Jeff Skinner and center Marcus Johansson. He has 24 points (eight goals, 16 assists) in 61 games and is two from 500 in the NHL. The Sabres have won two straight games, are 5-1-0 in their past six and 7-3-1 in their past 11. They're sixth in the Atlantic Division and 10 points behind the Columbus Blue Jackets for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Eastern Conference. Vladislav Namestnikov will debut for Colorado at left wing with center Pierre-Edouard Bellemare and right wing Martin Kaut after he was traded by the Ottawa Senators on Monday. He has 25 points (13 goals, 12 assists) in 56 games. The Avalanche have won three in a row and are 8-2-1 in their past 11. They're third in the Central Division, one point behind the second-place Dallas Stars.
Players to watch
Sabres center Jack Eichel has 11 points (four goals, seven assists) in his past eight games. Avalanche goalie Pavel Francouz is 3-0-1 with a 1.46 goals-against average, .941 save percentage and his first NHL shutout in his past four games.
They said it
"I thought that I could be a piece that could ultimately help this team get into the playoffs. I'm extremely excited to be here, and I can't wait to get started." -- Sabres forward Wayne Simmonds "It's a great team, a contending team, and I'm happy to be here. I'm kind of a two-way forward, responsible in my own zone and I can chip in offensively. I'll do everything it takes to help." -- Avalanche forward Vladislav Namestnikov
Kahun, a forward, took part in an optional skate and could play against the Vegas Golden Knights on Friday. He was traded to Buffalo by the Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday. … Barberio, a defenseman, will play right wing on the fourth line.
Stat pack
Okposo has five points (four goals, one assist) in a four-game point streak. … MacKinnon has 16 points (six goals, 10 assists) in his past 14 games. … Jost will play his 200th NHL game.
