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

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is expected to start in goal tonight for the Sabres as the team welcomes the Tampa Bay Lightning to KeyBank Center. Tickets are available here.
Luukkonen was the first goalie off the ice after morning skate, indicating that he will make his third start this season since being recalled from Rochester on November 17 to fill in for an injured Eric Comrie.
In his last start, Luukkonen made 34 saves and earned "Luuuu" chants from the crowd en route to a 6-2 victory over the St. Louis Blues on Wednesday.
The 23-year-old attributed his success to being calm and confident in net, which is something he hopes to bring to the ice against a talented Lightning offense.

"They're going to make plays. There is a lot of stuff that works lateral for them, they play a lot of cross ice, so those are probably some of the things you know as a goalie," Luukkonen said. "But also, they have really good shots and shooting guys, so just be ready for really anything."
Luukkonen and the Sabres look to bounce back following a 3-1 setback against the New Jersey Devils on Friday.
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. Asplund returns

Rasmus Asplund will return to the lineup tonight, Sabres coach Don Granato announced.
Asplund has missed the last two games with an upper-body injury.
He has six points (2+4) in 17 contests this season and currently ranks second among Sabres forwards in shorthanded ice time per game. Vinnie Hinostroza will be a healthy scratch.

2. Jost the beginning

Since being claimed off waivers on November 19, Tyson Jost has continued to make an impact on Buffalo's fourth line.
"…The other night we had him with Okposo and Girgensons, and that line generated more chances in one game than the third or fourth line have had in multiple games combined," Granato said.
Granato made note of Jost's work ethic and compete as being traits that have made the 24-year-old forward stand out.
"Tyson is a guy that, with his experience, knows how to simplify the game," Granato said.
Get to know more about the newest Sabres player in yesterday's Eye On Sabres report:

3. Thompson's growth

After the morning skate, Granato talked about Tage Thompson's growth as a player in the past year.
"He's always had the talent, meaning you can see the potential in him, and he's always chipped away at that potential," Granato said. "…He's realized now that now's the time.
"That's a pretty powerful switch that went off."
Thompson has recorded 23 points (12+11) in his last 14 games. He has also notched three points (0+3) in his last three games against the Lightning.

4. The season series

Tonight marks the second of four meetings between the Sabres and Lightning this season.
Buffalo fell 5-3 in the first game of the season series in Tampa on November 5. Playing without defensemen Rasmus Dahlin, Mattias Samuelsson, and Henri Jokiharju, the Sabres held a 3-2 lead in the third period before the Lightning scored three unanswered goals.
Zemgus Girgensons, Casey Mittelstadt and Jeff Skinner each found the back of the net while Owen Power tallied two assists in the loss.
The Sabres and Lightning will meet next in Buffalo on December 23.

5. Scouting the Lightning

Tampa has won five of eight games since defeating the Sabres, including a 5-2 victory over the Blues on Friday.
The Lightning are led by their top two lines, which have combined for 29 goals and 48 assists in the month of November.
Nikita Kucherov and Steven Stamkos are tied for the team lead with 10 goals each this season while Kucherov leads the Lightning in assists (21) and points (31).