Music: {allcanada} OILERS (18-33-6) AT SABRES (15-31-8)

Sunday, February 2, 2014

{allcanada} OILERS (18-33-6) AT SABRES (15-31-8)

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OILERS (18-33-6) AT SABRES (15-31-8)

TV: SNET-W, MSG-B, BELL TV

Last 10: Edmonton 3-6-1; Buffalo 2-5-3

Season series: The Buffalo Sabres and Edmonton Oilers have not played each other season. They last met over two years ago, Jan. 3 2012, when the Sabres used two third-period goals to edge the Oilers, 4-3.

Big story: The Sabres look for their first home win since Jan 4. They have dropped six games in a row at First Niagara Center. The Oilers continue a four-game road trip; they will face the New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils later in the week before the Olympic break.

Team Scope:

Oilers: Edmonton had won three games in a row before a 4-0 loss to the Boston Bruins on Saturday. It was the seventh time they were shut out this season. Despite facing a Sabres team with the fewest points in the League, the Oilers aren't expecting two points to come easy.

"We're in now position to take anyone lightly," Oilers coach Dallas Eakins said after practice Sunday. "We are at where we are at in the standings. I expect Buffalo to come out hard after losing their game the way they did against Colorado."

The game features two teams with the fewest points in the NHL, with each looking for a win after suffering losses on Saturday.

"Anytime you see a team in the standings that is near you or below you, you want to beat them to kid of validate yourself a little bit," Oilers forward Taylor Hall said Sunday.

Sabres: Buffalo suffered a 7-1 defeat to the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday afternoon, allowing three goals in the opening eight minutes of the game.

"You get beat 7-1, there's nothing good to come about from those games. You just gotta look past it and get ready for the next game," Sabres forward Marcus Foglino said after the game.

This followed an impressive 3-2 win against the Phoenix Coyotes on Thursday, something the team hoped to build off of. Buffalo has not won back-to-back games in six weeks.

"We got out played every facet of the game from start to finish. Not much to build off tonight. We have to be a lot better if we want to get some points," forward Matt D’Agostini said.

Who's hot: Sabres defenseman Tyler Ennis has a goal and three assists in his past three games. ... Oilers goalie Ben Scrivens has allowed three goals in three games and has made 118 saves on 121 shots (.975 save percentage).

Injury report: The Oilers have four forwards on injured reserve: Steve MacIntyre (knee), Ryan Hamilton (knee), Tyler Pitlick (knee) and Richard Bachman (groin). ... The Sabres' Cody McCormick (upper body), Kevin Porter (lower body) and Drew Stafford (upper body) are on IR. Matt Moulson will be out at least one week with an upper-body injury.

Team Stats