Game Preview | 5 things to know ahead of Sabres vs. Flames

Mattias Samuelsson will be in the lineup for the Buffalo Sabres against the Calgary Flames at KeyBank Center on Thursday.

Samuelsson left Buffalo’s win over Tampa Bay on Tuesday following his first shift of the third period due to an upper-body injury. He was on the ice for the team’s morning skate Thursday.

Tickets for tonight are available here.

Coverage on MSG begins at 6:30 p.m. The puck drops at 7 on MSG and WGR 550.

Here are five things to know.

1. The lineup

Devon Levi was the first goaltender off the ice following the morning skate and is expected to start for the fourth straight game.

Here’s how the group lined up:

2. Last time out

The Sabres limited the Lightning to just 23 shots in their 3-2 overtime victory on Tuesday. The Lightning tied the game with seven seconds remaining in regulation, but the Sabres responded by dominating possession in the extra period until Dylan Cozens buried the winning goal off the post.

It was the sort of low-scoring, defensive battle the Sabres proved they were capable of winning down the stretch last season as they fought for a spot in the playoffs.

“We’re a team that knows we can score,” Samuelsson said. “Not every game you’re going to be able to score five goals, so you’ve got to be able to win the tight ones. Last year, just having that stretch at the end where we were in a bunch of close ones and getting the job done, we kind of proved to ourselves that if we lock in on defensive details, we can beat anybody 2-1, 1-0, whatever it is.”

3. Killing it

The Sabres are 10-for-11 on the penalty kill to start the season following a 4-for-4 night against the Lightning. Samuelsson ranks third on the team in shorthanded ice time behind Jordan Greenway and veteran newcomer Erik Johnson.

“I think there’s just a little more confidence to it,” Samuelsson said. “Instead of worrying about getting scored on or the other power play scoring, we just hop over the boards and know we can kill the two minutes. I think that approach helps.”

4. Greenway’s start

Greenway has points in back-to-back games after assisting on Cozens’ overtime winner against the Lightning. He scored his first goal of the season in the previous game against the Islanders.

The Sabres have outscored opponents 2-0 and have generated a 15-9 edge in scoring chances with the forward line of Greenway, Casey Mittelstadt, and Zach Benson on the ice at 5-on-5, according to Natural Stat Trick.

5. Scouting the Flames

The Flames are 1-1-1 coming off an overtime loss in Washington on Monday. Defenseman Noah Hanifin enters Thursday on a three-game point streak and leads the team with four assists.

Calgary is 10-for-10 on the penalty kill to open the season and 59-for-65 (90.8 percent) dating back to March 1, which leads the NHL in that span.

“When you look at that lineup, it’s deep and strong,” Granato said. “… Heck of a group of defensemen, very talented and very competitive, and likewise up front.”

Dan Vladar will make his first start of the season in goal for Calgary.