HURRICANES(8-10-4) at SABRES(8-12-2)
TV: FS-CR, MSG-B, BELL TV
Season Series: The Buffalo Sabres won two of three games against the Carolina Hurricanes last season. Marcus Foligno's two goals led Buffalo, and Eric Staal and Rilley each scored twice for Carolina.
Hurricanes team scope: Goalie Cam Ward will start his second straight game, The News & Observeser reported. He made 30 saves in a 4-1 victory against the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday, Carolina's second win in its past three games. Ward is 2-0-3 in his past five starts. Defenseman Ryan Murphy, who has not played since sustaining a concussion Nov. 14 against the Philadelphia Flyers, practiced Thursday before being assigned to Charoltte of the American Hockey League. He has four assists in 17 games for Carolina this season. Defenseman Tim Gleason informed the Hurricanes on Thursday that he was ending his professional tryout. Gleason, 32, played 546 games with Carolina between 2006 and 2015. "He looked and felt good physically but didn't feel up to the grind of the NHL mentally," general manager Ron Francis said.
Sabres team scope: Buffalo has lost six straight games (0-4-2) after winning three in a row and five of six. All of the losses have come against teams that are in a Stanley Cup Playoff position (Dallas Stars, twice; St. Louis Blues, twice; San Jose Sharks; and Nashville Prdators). "You look at all the games, we had chances," left wing Evander Kane told the Buffalo News. "You can look at the positives. We've definitely competed with those teams and outplayed them at times, but that only takes you so far. You've got to win. This is a results league, so winning's the main thing, no matter how you play." The Sabres have scored seven goals during the losing streak. They outshot the Predators 32-20 on Wednesday, but lost 3-2.