RED WINGS (28-38-10) at SABRES (31-36-9) 7 p.m. ET; MSG-B, FS-D, NHL.TV
Detroit has won two straight and is 4-1-0 in its past five games after going 1-9-3 in its previous 13. The Sabres, who have lost four in a row and are 1-10-1 in their past 11 games, have been shut out four times in their past nine games. Detroit and Buffalo each has been eliminated from Stanley Cup Playoff contention.
Players to watch
Red Wings center Andreas Athanasiou has seven points (five goals, two assists) in his past five games and is one goal shy of reaching 30 for the first time in his NHL career. Sabres center Jack Eichel has six points (three goals, three assists) in six games against Detroit KeyBank Center and needs one goal for 100 in the NHL.
They said it
"I think the growth process for him will be eliminating the valleys and making sure those valleys are much more shallow [so] that when it's not his A game, he's got a real good B game." -- Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill on forward Anthony Mantha "We've been working really hard down there and we've been winning a lot, so I think we're coming up here with a lot of energy and some confidence as well. Hopefully we can bring that." -- Sabres forward Victor Olofsson on the players called up from Rochester of the American Hockey League
Mantha declared himself good to go after missing practice Wednesday. … The Red Wings held an optional morning skate. … Olofsson will make his NHL debut. ... McCabe, who has been skating on his own for the past couple of weeks, skated with the Sabres for the first time and is day to day. … Rodrigues, Bogosian, Ristolainen and Hunwick each is day to day.
Stat pack
Larkin is two goals shy of reaching 30 for the first time in his NHL career. … Skinner, with 37 goals this season, is one goal from setting an NHL career high; he also had 37 with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2016-17.
