Game Preview | 5 things to know ahead of Sabres at Predators

NASHVILLE – Defenseman Bowen Byram took the ice at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville Thursday morning, less than 24 hours after being acquired by the Buffalo Sabres from the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for forward Casey Mittelstadt.

Byram will make his debut Thursday night for the Sabres as the team closes out its back-to-back set, which kicked off with a 2-1 overtime loss to Toronto on Wednesday.

Granato said Byram will enter the lineup in place of Ryan Johnson while Erik Johnson will remain out.

UPDATE (7:15 p.m.) - Tage Thompson will miss the game due to an upper-body injury and is considered day to day, the team announced. 

Byram has recorded 20 points (8+12) in 55 games this season while averaging 19:51 of ice time.

Following the game in Toronto, Sabres coach Don Granato said Byram was supposed to meet the team in Buffalo but was too excited to wait and instead traveled straight to Nashville to meet the group at its hotel.

“When I got off the phone, I texted Kevyn, ‘I don’t think he’s going right to Buffalo. He’s gonna go right to Nashville,’’” Granato said. “And, a half hour later, he called Kevyn back and said, ‘I want to go to Nashville.’

“He told me right away he was very excited immediately on the phone. Lots of energy, lots of positive energy. … When I got off that phone call, I was completely energized by him and his enthusiasm to be part of our organization.”

Pregame coverage on MSG/MSG+ begins at 7:30 p.m. with puck drop from Bridgestone Arena scheduled for 8. Radio coverage can be found on WGR 550.

Here are five things to know ahead of Sabres at Predators.

1. "Bo" Byram

The newest Sabres defenseman has several connections to the roster, having played with Dylan Cozens, Peyton Krebs, and Jack Quinn for Team Canada in the past.

After Wednesday's game against the Maple Leafs, Cozens and Krebs reacted to the trade with excitement to welcome one of their close friends to the team.

“Bo is an unbelievable guy – love him to death and I think he’s going to fit so well into our group and I’m so excited for him to get here,” Krebs said. “It’s going to be awesome.”

For more on their reactions, read Wednesday's postgame report.

2. In the crease

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen started in the first game of the back-to-back set, setting up Eric Comrie for the start against the Predators.

Comrie has started in eight games for the Sabres this season, posting a .868 save percentage.

3. The season series

The Sabres and Predators will meet for the second and final time this season after Nashville defeated Buffalo 2-1 in Buffalo on Dec. 3.

Victor Olofsson, who scored Buffalo’s lone goal against the Maple Leafs on Wednesday, capitalized on a penalty shot in the first meeting between the two teams this season.

4. Girgensons' streak

Zemgus Girgensons has recorded a point in three consecutive games with one goal and two assists in that span.

Girgensons skated alongside Eric Robinson and Kyle Okposo on Wednesday and the Sabres held a 16-5 edge in shot attempts when the trio was on the ice together at 5-on-5, according to Natural Stat Trick.

5. Scouting the Predators

Nashville currently holds the final Wild Card spot in the Western Conference with 73 points in the 2023-24 campaign.

The Predators have posted an 8-1-1 record in their last 10 games and are led by Filip Forsberg, who has recorded 64 points (30+34) in 63 games this season.