SABRES (8-9-2) at STARS 16-4-0
TV: MSG-B; BELL TV; FS-SW
Season Series: Dallas Stars forward Varleri Nichushikin had a goal 51 seconds into the game and forward Jason Spezza scored the eventual game-winner in the third period of a 3-1 win against the Buffalo Sabres at First Niagara Center on Tuesday. Stars goalie Antti Niemi made 24 saves.
Sabres team scope: Forward Ryan O'Reilly and defensemen Mark Pysyk and Zach Boogosian were not at practice Friday. O'Reilly and Boogosian took maintenance days and will be in the lineup, coach Dan Bylsma told Buffalo News. Pysyk, who missed the game Thursday against the St. Louis Blues because of a lower-body injury, remains day-to-day. Buffalo averaged 2.67 goals per game in winning five of six (5-1-0) from Oct. 30 to Nov. 12, but since then is 0-1-2 with four goals in three games. O'Reilly has three of them, one in each game. Goaltender Linus Ullmark, who has started the past two games, has given up two goals or fewer in six of his eight NHL starts, with a save percentage of at least .929 in each of those games.
Stars team scope Dallas didn't practice Friday in an attempt to conserve energy; coach Lindy Ruff said a couple of players were sent home because of illness. The Stars picked up their NHL-leading 16th win Thursday, 3-2 at the Washington Capitals, and now begin a three-game homestand. "I think keeping our feet on the ground and staying motivated for that next game ... these guys have done a tremendous job of putting the game away. Win a game, put it away." Ruff told the Stars website. Even after our losses we've been able to put the loss away and bounce back with a win." Spezza has goals in three straight games. Forward Tyler Seguin has two goals and three assists during a four-game point streak. Defenseman John Klingberg has two goals and seven points in his past four games.
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