Music: {allcanada} SABRES (14-31-3) at OILERS (12-27-9)

Wednesday, January 28, 2015

{allcanada} SABRES (14-31-3) at OILERS (12-27-9)

Thursday, January 29, 2015

9:30 PM ET

SABRES (14-31-3) at OILERS (12-27-9)

TV: MSG-B, BELL TV, SNOL

Season series: The Edmonton Oilers are going for a two-game sweep of the Buffalo Sabres; they rallied to win at Buffalo on Nov. 7 when Boyd Gordon scored the tie-breaking goal with 4:15 remaining. Goaltender Michal Neuvirth kept the Sabres in the game with 49 saves.

Sabres team scope: Buffalo hasn't lost at Rexall Place since Oct. 16, 2003, outscoring the Oilers 20-6 in four victories. But this season's edition of the Sabres comes to Edmonton having lost 12 consecutive games, dropping Buffalo to last place in the overall standings, two points ahead of the Oilers. Coach Ted Nolan said defenseman Nikita Zadorov will be a healthy scratch after he was suspended for Buffalo's 4-1 loss to the Calgary Flames on Tuesday after returning late from his vacation during the All-Star break. Zadorov apologized to his teammates, and coach Ted Nolan said he's more than likely going to play Friday against the Vancouver Canucks, according to the Buffalo News.

Oilers team scope: Edmonton didn't have first-line left wing Taylor Hall in the lineup for its 2-1 home loss to the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday due to a bone bruise on his lower right leg sustained at practice Monday. Hall didn't take part in practice Wednesday, and coach Todd Nelson told the Oilers website Hall is day-to-day. Nelson said the Oilers have been "trying to push the tempo and play a faster game," but added that puck movement has to improve for this to happen. The Oilers managed only one goal and 24 shots in the loss to Minnesota. Goaltender Viktor Fasth, who has started the past three games, made the case for another start by making 27 saves.

Team Stats