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

The Buffalo Sabres open a two-game homestand when they host the Nashville Predators at KeyBank Center on Sunday.

Tickets are available here.

The Sabres have returned home from their four-game road swing, which saw the group close out the trip with a 1-3-0 record after a 6-2 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday.

Following the loss, Dylan Cozens emphasized how getting off to a good start right when the puck drops will allow the team to find its game without having to worry about playing from behind.

“We’ve found ourselves down a lot to start games and it’s tough to chase like that,” he said. “We know we need to be better right from the start and play a full 60.”

Sunday’s pregame show on MSG/MSG+ kicks off at 6:30 p.m. with puck drop scheduled for 7. Radio coverage can be found on WGR 550.

Here are five things to know before puck drop.

1. Lineup notes

Forward Jordan Greenway exited Saturday’s game after the first period with an upper-body injury and did not return. Greenway will not be in the lineup against the Predators, Sabres coach Don Granato announced in his pregame media availability. 

Granato also shared that defenseman Ryan Johnson will come back into the lineup in place of Erik Johnson.

2. Last night out

Casey Mittelstadt scored early in the third period to cut into Carolina’s 5-0 lead but the Hurricanes responded four minutes later with a shorthanded goal.

Tyson Jost added a tally midway through the third but the Sabres were unable to mount a comeback.

Goaltender Eric Comrie made 29 saves in his sixth start of the season.

For more on Saturday’s game, check out the postgame report.

3. In the crease

The Sabres have not yet announced their starting goaltender, but Comrie playing the first game of the back-to-back set lines up Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen to make his 11th start of the season.

In his first 12 appearances, Luukkonen has posted a 6-4-1 record, 2.88 goals-against average, and .905 save percentage.

4. Krebs’ streak

Peyton Krebs tallied his first goal of the season against St. Louis on Thursday, and now has three points (1+2) in his last two games.

A point in Sunday’s matchup with Nashville would give Krebs his first point streak of three or more games in his career.

5. Scouting the Predators

The Predators have dropped their last two contests after winning six consecutive games from Nov. 18 through Nov. 28.

Forward Filip Forsberg leads the team with 27 points (12+15) in 23 games while Ryan O’Reilly has 21 points (11+10) of his own.

Nashville leads the NHL in hits per 60 minutes (21.5) and total hits (496) this season.