Pittsburgh Penguins (14-8-4, third in the Metropolitan Division) vs. Buffalo Sabres (12-13-1, seventh in the Atlantic Division)
Buffalo, New York; Friday, 7 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: The Buffalo Sabres host the Pittsburgh Penguins after Tage Thompson's five-goal game against the Columbus Blue Jackets in the Sabres' 9-4 win.
Buffalo is 12-13-1 overall and 6-8-1 at home. The Sabres rank first in NHL play with 29 power-play goals.
Pittsburgh has a 7-5-2 record on the road and a 14-8-4 record overall. The Penguins have scored 92 total goals (3.5 per game) to rank sixth in NHL play.
The matchup Friday is the sixth time these teams square off this season. The Sabres won 6-3 in the last matchup. Thompson led the Sabres with five goals.
TOP PERFORMERS: Thompson has 21 goals and 19 assists for the Sabres. Jeff Skinner has seven goals and 10 assists over the last 10 games.
Sidney Crosby has 15 goals and 20 assists for the Penguins. Jake Guentzel has four goals and nine assists over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Sabres: 5-4-1, averaging 4.5 goals, 7.4 assists, 4.9 penalties and 10.1 penalty minutes while giving up 3.7 goals per game.
Penguins: 8-1-1, averaging 3.6 goals, 6.7 assists, 3.4 penalties and 7.9 penalty minutes while giving up 2.2 goals per game.
INJURIES: Sabres: Vinnie Hinostroza: day to day (undisclosed), Eric Comrie: out (undisclosed), Ilya Lyubushkin: out (undisclosed).
Penguins: Kris Letang: out (illness), Ryan Poehling: day to day (upper-body).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
The Associated Press
