Sharpen Up: November 5, 2016

It's time to get acquainted with the Ottawa Senators. By the time you shave that Movember mustache you've been growing proudly for four days now, the Sabres and Senators will have already met three times in the span of less than a month. The first meeting takes place tonight at Canadian Tire Centre.
The puck drops at 7 p.m., but feel free to join Brian Duff and Brad May on the TOPS Gamenight pregame show at 6:30 on MSG-B.
Here's what you need to know in advance of tonight's game.

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William Carrier is set to make his debut

Carrier earned his first career recall on Friday morning and is expected to make his debut playing on the left wing on a line with Derek Grant and Nick Baptiste. The 21-year-old former second-round draft pick is playing his third professional season and has three goals and an assist in seven games for Rochester this season.
You can read more about Carrier and his road to the NHL in yesterday's Ice Level Practice Report, or hear from him below in yesterday's Sabres in :90.

Evander Kane is back on the ice

Tim Murray said in his appearance on WGR 550 on Thursday that Kane (cracked ribs) had returned to skating, but Sabres coach Dan Bylsma offered more information following practice on Friday. Kane has been skating for four days, he said, but needs to add more physicality to his solo sessions before he can rejoin the team at practice.
"He's skated down four days, quite hard, quite extensively," Bylsma said. "He's added some physicality to it and he needs to continue to kind of add more of that to see how he's going to feel and react to the physicality."
Bylsma also talked about Jack Eichel's attitude towards his recovery from a high-ankle sprain, Marcus Foligno's shooting mentality and more, all of which you can find in the video below.

It's Hockey Fights Cancer Night in Ottawa

Some games are about more than just hockey. When the Senators hold their Hockey Fights Cancer ceremonies prior to the game tonight, you can bet that their thoughts will be with their goaltender, Craig Anderson.
Anderson had taken a personal leave of absence in late October to be with his wife Nicholle, who had been diagnosed with cancer. Upon news of an injury to fellow goalie Andrew Hammond, however, Nicholle urged her husband to return to play with the team in Edmonton.
What followed was nothing short of remarkable: an emotional 37-save shutout of the Oilers on Sunday night, followed by a 32-save victory over Carolina the following night. The performances made Anderson the NHL's first star of the week.
While there's no doubt that Craig and Nicholle Anderson will be on the mind of many in Ottawa tonight, it remains unclear whether or not Criag will be able to start in net. Anderson took a second leave to be with his wife on Thursday. Mike Condon, who had been acquired from Pittsburgh one day prior, made 34 saves in a shutout of Vancouver in Anderson's absence.
"With Craig it's really day-to-day. Whenever he can make it, he's playing, and whenever he can't make it Condon is ready to go as we saw yesterday," Senators coach Guy Boucher said Friday. "Whenever he's available, he's our No. 1."
Meanwhile, forward Mark Stone is "hopeful" to return to the lineup for Ottawa while defenseman Chris Wideman is day-to-day.
If you were unable to make it to KeyBank Center and missed our coverage of Buffalo's own Hockey Fights Cancer Night last Thursday, you can relive that special night in the video below.

On Tap

Chris Ryndak is in Ottawa (look out, Ottawa) and he'll be providing updates following the Sabres' morning skate at 11:30 a.m. Also look out for Duffer's game preview, which can be found online here or on Twitter

later this afternoon.
After the game, we'll have highlights, a written recap and full interviews right here on Sabres.com