Sharpen Up: March 11, 2021 | Sabres host Penguins tonight

It's a Buffalo Sabres game night. The team is back home for the next three games after spending the last five on the road.
Tonight, they'll face the Pittsburgh Penguins at KeyBank Center. Faceoff on MSG and WGR 550 is set for 7 p.m. Pregame coverage on MSG begins at 6:30.
Here's what you need to know.

Tonight's Matchup

The Sabres earned a point last game in a 5-4 shootout loss to Philadelphia on Tuesday, but they're looking to pick up their first win since February 25. Buffalo is 0-6-2 since then. Also since returning from a two-week COVID-related hiatus on February 15, the team is 2-10-2.
Sabres captain Jack Eichel is out for at least a week with an upper-body injury. He missed Tuesday's game and we could have an update on his status going forward when coach Ralph Krueger addresses the media later this morning.
Pittsburgh is currently in third place in the East Division with 31 points. They've won three in a row.
Let's dive right into @SabresPR's Game Notes.

Yesterday, Sabres.com took a look at how Casey Mittelstadt has adapted to a strange season. The 22-year-old forward has been up and down from the taxi squad all season and has played well in his spot starts. He's working to carve out a more regular role with the club.
"What I see him doing is staying focused on one single thing and that's becoming a consistent National Hockey League player," Krueger said. "Whether he is playing in games, whether he's on the taxi squad or whether he's practicing with the full squad, I've seen nothing but a pro in action.
"He has truly got a competitive bite within him right now. We're expecting him to eventually find his way into a regular spot."
Mittelstadt has spent the past two games skating on his off wing alongside Jeff Skinner and Curtis Lazar. Scoring chances have been in Buffalo's favor, 13-4, with Mittelstadt on the ice at 5-on-5 in those games. Krueger suggested Mittelstadt's path could be on the wing moving forward.
"He's done a good job of increasing his strength and his foundation," Krueger said. "The second is his ability to play without the puck and what we need from everybody when it comes to checking and defense and he's working hard with the coaching staff on that. And, finally, we want his genius to express itself.
"He has the potential to be a top-six forward in the National Hockey League and that will be the final piece then to the puzzle."
Read more here.

Testing and ticketing info for game on March 20

Yesterday, the team announced the on-sale dates and ticketing details for the team's game on Saturday, March 20 against the Boston Bruins. A limited number of tickets will be available for the game and season ticket holders will have the first chance to purchase tickets.
Tickets for the game will go on sale to season ticket holders on Thursday, March 11 before the general on-sale at 2 p.m. on Friday, March 12. Season ticket holders will be contacted directly on March 11 with instructions on how to purchase tickets.
Each fan who attends a game this season will need to produce a negative molecular PCR test result from a test taken within 72 hours of the game. To help fans, the Sabres will collaborate with Quest Diagnostics to facilitate cost-efficient molecular PCR testing through QuestDirect, the company's consumer-initiated testing service.
Fans can schedule their molecular PCR test with Quest Diagnostics at multiple locations throughout Western New York.
Click here for more details.
Additional information for fans attending Sabres games this season can be found at Sabres.com/FAQ.

Today in Sabres history

2003: The Sabres acquire Daniel Briere and Phoenix's third-round pick in the 2004 NHL Draft (Andrej Sekera) in exchange for Chris Gratton and Buffalo's fourth-round pick in the 2004 NHL Draft (Liam Reddox).
The trade turned out to be one of the best deals in Sabres history.
Briere played parts of four seasons with Buffalo, recording 230 points (92+138) in 225 games. He served as co-captain alongside Chris Drury in 2005-06 and 2006-07.
Sekera began to play a larger role with the Sabres in 2007-08, the season after Briere left for Philadelphia in free agency. Sekera played in 339 games over seven seasons with the Sabres, posting 92 points (17+75).

A new place to watch games next season

The Walt Disney Company, ESPN and the National Hockey League announced yesterday that they reached "a historic and innovative seven-year television, streaming and media rights deal, taking the new partnership from the beginning of the 2021-22 season through the 2027-28 season."
From the press release:
The visionary, first-of-its-kind agreement brings the NHL back to Disney and ESPN platforms and illustrates the unique position of The Walt Disney Company to bring the best hockey in the world to millions across its unparalleled collection of media platforms.
It is highlighted by: exclusive coverage of the Stanley Cup Final on ABC in four of the seven years of the agreement, with the ability to simulcast/megacast on ESPN+ and additional ESPN networks; the return of live NHL action to ESPN networks with 25 exclusive national regular-season games on ABC or ESPN; 75 national regular-season games per season produced by ESPN that will stream exclusively on both ESPN+ and Hulu; half of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on ABC and ESPN each season; and coverage annually of NHL's Face-off (opening night games), the NHL All-Star Game and Skills Challenge, plus other NHL special events each season.
Additionally, the NHL's out-of-market streaming package, with more than 1,000 games (formerly on NHL.TV), will now be available for fans to stream only as part of an ESPN+ subscription.
The agreement also includes extensive highlight rights that will add to coverage across ESPN's year-round news and highlights programming, and to coverage on the ESPN App and social media. International media rights - including in Latin America, the Caribbean and parts of Europe - are also part of the agreement.
More details can be found here.