It will be the second and final matchup between the two teams this season. The Sabres won the first meeting, 4-0, on Oct. 14, back when the Stars were in the thick of a 1-7-1 start.
Things have changed. The Stars now rank second in the Western Conference with 58 points and have won seven of their last eight games. Sabres coach Ralph Krueger remarked on the differences in Dallas' play following practice on Wednesday.
"It's a different planet," he said. "Really, it's crazy. Watching them last night and this morning, there's a directness in their attack, there's a speed in their game that we didn't see when they were here. It's as well-oiled a machine as we've watched in a pre-scout in a while. This is going to be a big challenge for us.
"They're very confident, they play extremely simple, they give you nothing and they defend better than any team that I've actually seen in the last four or five weeks on video. So, let's see it live. We need to break it down and we need to be as patient as they are to have a chance."
Dallas allows an average of 2.33 goals per game, which ranks first in the NHL. Its penalty kill ranks third in the league at 83.8 percent.
The Sabres, meanwhile, have won four of their past six games thanks in part to a resurgence in their special teams. They're 6-for-13 on the power play in their last five contests.
Check out Wednesday's practice report to find out how Rasmus Ristolainen's presence at the net-front has helped fuel the Sabres' recent success with the extra man.
