Dallas @ Buffalo preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 12, 2019 ) Dallas 2, Buffalo 0

The Buffalo Sabres began the season with a five-game point streak but have gone beyond regulation in each of their last three contests. They hope to extend their run without the need for extra time when they conclude a three-game homestand Monday afternoon against the Dallas Stars.

Buffalo kept alive the streak with a 3-2 shootout victory over Florida on Friday after squandering a two-goal lead in the third period. Captain Jack Eichel was kept off the scoresheet in regulation after notching four points in an overtime win over Montreal on Wednesday but scored the decisive goal in the bonus format to get the Sabres off to their best start since 2009-10, when they also opened at 4-0-1. Dallas is kicking off a four-game road trip after suffering a 4-1 loss to Washington on Saturday to fall to 0-2-1 at home. Radek Faksa netted the lone tally in the setback for the Stars, whose first five games were one-goal decisions - including one in overtime at Washington on Tuesday for their only win.

TV: 3 p.m. ET, FS Southwest (Dallas), MSG (Buffalo)

ABOUT THE STARS (1-4-1): Dallas has been abysmal on the power play thus far, going 1-for-20 after failing on all six opportunities against the Capitals. "The amount of power plays we usually get, you have to bury at least one a game," veteran center Tyler Seguin told reporters. "That's on us. We have to find a way to get something going." Roope Hintz leads the team with four goals in six games after scoring nine in 58 contests as a rookie last season.

ABOUT THE SABRES (4-0-1): Defenseman Rasmus Dahlin failed to notch a point against the Panthers, ending his season-opening streak at four games. The 19-year-old Swede, who was the first overall pick in the 2018 draft, collected one goal and six assists during the run. Kyle Okposo and Zemgus Girgensons each recorded a pair of assists on Friday after registering just one point apiece over their first four contests.

OVERTIME

1. Sabres C Jeff Skinner's next assist will be the 200th of his career.

2. Dallas has won each of the last five meetings while G Ben Bishop is 12-0-1 lifetime versus the Sabres, winning the last 12 matchups and recording a shutout in each of the last two.

3. Buffalo has won its first three home games for the first time since 2008-09.

PREDICTION: Sabres 4, Stars 2