Game Preview | 5 things to know ahead of Sabres at Blue Jackets

The Buffalo Sabres will wrap up the 2022-23 season tonight with a game in Columbus.
Game No. 82 is set for 7:30 p.m. from Nationwide Arena on MSG and WGR 550. Pregame coverage on MSG starts at 7.
This game was originally scheduled to be played on December 27 but had to be moved after inclement weather in Buffalo prevented the Sabres from leaving Western New York.
Here are five things to know ahead of tonight's game:

1. Last night's recap

The Sabres won their home finale against the Ottawa Senators 4-3 in overtime. Casey Mittelstadt scored the winner 1:18 into the extra period.
The night, however, belonged to goaltender Craig Anderson, who announced that he'll be retiring at the end of the season. Anderson made 30 saves to pick up the 319th win of his career, which is tied for 32nd in NHL history.
Anderson, the oldest player in the NHL at 41, played 709 games over 20 seasons.
"I think I left it all out there," Anderson said. "At the end of the day, I did everything I possibly could to make sure that I was competitive and gave the team a chance to win. You've got to be honest with yourself and that's just the way this game goes. Father Time always catches up to you."

At the conclusion of the game, his teammates mobbed him, the Senators stayed on the ice to congratulate him, his family met him in the Zamboni entrance for an embrace, and the fans serenaded him with chants of "Andy! Andy!"
Read more in our Postgame Report.

2. Fan Appreciation Night at Home

Fans who tune in to tonight's broadcast on MSG starting at 7 p.m. can scan a special QR Code and gain access to a special URL so they can enter to win great prizes.
Viewers who enter this year's Fan Appreciation Night at Home sweepstakes could win one of three great prizes: a $500 KeyBank gift card, a goathead duo jersey pack (featuring a Reverse Retro and a black and red Sabres third jersey) or a VIP Game Night Experience for the 2023-24 season.

3. Season series

This is the third and final meeting between the Sabres and Blue Jackets this season. Columbus defeated Buffalo 5-3 at KeyBank Center in their most recent meeting on February 28. Buffalo won the first meeting in Columbus by a 9-4 score back on December 7.
The Sabres are 4-4-2 in their last 10 games against Columbus and 3-5-2 in their last 10 on the road.
This is the 41st game all-time between Buffalo and Columbus. Buffalo has a 15-20-5 series record.
The Blue Jackets defeated Pittsburgh 3-2 in overtime last night. Tyler Angle, Samuel Knazko, Mikael Pyyhtia and Stanislav Svozil all made their NHL debuts.
Columbus enters tonight's game tied for the second fewest points in the league with 59.

4. Tonight's lineup

Stay tuned to coverage from Columbus as well as the pregame show for lineup news and notes.
Mattias Samuelsson has already been ruled out this weekend with an undisclosed injury and it's unlikely that Tage Thompson will dress.

5. What's next

The players will meet with the media Saturday and Sunday morning for their official locker cleanout interviews. Stay tuned to Sabres.com and our social media channels for live coverage throughout the day.
General manager Kevyn Adams and head coach Don Granato will hold their postseason press conferences on Monday.