Sharpen Up: All the Sabres news you need to know on February 7, 2020

The Buffalo Sabres are back in action tonight following last night's 4-3 shootout loss to the Detroit Red Wings.
Tonight, they'll take on the New York Rangers in the Big Apple. It's a 7 p.m. start with pregame coverage on MSG kicking off at 6:30. We'll also be re-airing "Beyond Blue and Gold: Ray v. Domi" during the intermissions so set your DVRs to record that.
Buffalo's next home game is Sunday at 3 p.m. It's a Kids Day Game so check out our special ticket offer.
Here's what you need to know.

Tonight's matchup

From @SabresPR's Game Notes...

A look back at last night

From the Postgame Report…
Evan Rodrigues scored with 46.2 seconds remaining to send the game into overtime, but early missed opportunities cost the Sabres a point in the standings in what ended as a 3-2 shootout loss to the Detroit Red Wings at KeyBank Center on Thursday.
The Sabres erased deficits of 2-0 and 3-2 in the third period on goals from Jimmy Vesey, Scott Wilson, and Rodrigues. They were in that position, coach Ralph Krueger said, because of the chances they had been unable to capitalize on in the first two periods.
Buffalo held heavy advantages in both 5-on-5 scoring chances (15-4) and high-danger attempts (10-0) during the first 40 minutes, according to NaturalStatTrick.com.

"It's the failed opportunities and the grit we need to finish on those opportunities that is definitely the reason for this loss today," Krueger said. "It was a good reaction in the third, coming back from two down. It was a good reaction scoring 6-on-5 to bring it into overtime under the circumstances, but we shouldn't have been in those circumstances."
Dylan Larkin scored twice for the Red Wings in the first period and Tyler Bertuzzi added a power-play goal in the third. Larkin and Andreas Athanasiou both buried their shootout attempts against rookie goaltender Jonas Johansson, who made his first NHL start for the Sabres.

The loss is Buffalo's fourth in five games since returning from the All-Star break, a string of poor results that Krueger feels has impacted their offense.
"When you just purely look at the game from scoring chances as we do as coaches, there is an effort to get the job done," Krueger said. "There is a lack of confidence right now, so what you're seeing sometimes is hesitation on scoring chances. You're seeing hesitation on puck movement when it can be a little bit quicker. But I do not see these guys quitting.
"I think there's a bite in that room. They don't want this season to fall away. They want to fight against this storm that we're fighting against right now and we have to stick together, and we have to work together on solutions. That's all we can do in this adversity right now."
Read the full recap here.

2000s Night will feature a special pregame ceremony

In addition to over a dozen alumni coming back for the Sabres' home game on Feb. 13 against Columbus, the team will honor the ownership of Tom Golisano during an on-ice pregame ceremony.
Golisano purchased the Sabres out of bankruptcy in April 2003 and ensured that the franchise would not leave Buffalo. The team went on appear in a pair of Eastern Conference Finals and won the Presidents' Trophy in 2006-07.
The Presidents' Trophy will be on display in the 100 level concourse and fans are encouraged to check it out and take photos with it.
The following alumni are expected to attend, and a number of them will greet fans on the 100 level concourse and on the 200 level in the Seneca Sports Lounge before the game:
Martin Biron
Eric Boulton
Daniel Briere
Brian Campbell
Tim Connolly
J-P Dumont
Paul Gaustad
Michal Grosek
Patrick Kaleta
Patrick Lalime
Adam Mair
Jay McKee
Daniel Paille
Andrew Peters
Jason Pominville
Michael Ryan
Rhett Warrener

Check out more details of the night here.