Buffalo @ Los Angeles preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 11, 2018 ) Los Angeles 3, Buffalo 4

The Buffalo Sabres' season-opening point streak came to an end in the opener of their California road trip, but they hope to begin a new run when they visit the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday. Buffalo earned at least one point in each of its first six contests (5-0-1) before dropping a 5-2 decision Wednesday in Anaheim.

Captain Jack Eichel and rookie Victor Olofsson created a 2-0 lead that was squandered by the Sabres, who were in the midst of their longest point streak to start a season since opening the 2008-09 campaign 6-0-2. After alternating wins and losses over their first four games, the Kings have dropped two in a row to fall to 1-2-0 on their five-game homestand. Los Angeles scored 18 goals over its first four contests but only twice during its skid after being blanked 2-0 by Carolina on Tuesday. The Kings could be without former Norris Trophy winner Drew Doughty, who exited the loss to the Hurricanes late in the third period with an apparent head injury after being checked into the boards by Jordan Staal.

TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, MSG (Buffalo), FS West (Los Angeles)

ABOUT THE SABRES (5-1-1): Olofsson, who was selected in the seventh round of the 2014 draft, leads the team with six goals and has scored in five of his first seven contests this season. The 24-year-old Swede is averaging nearly a point per game as he has collected eight tallies - all on the power play - and four assists in 13 career games after making his NHL debut last campaign. Jeff Skinner, who registered a team-high nine shots in Wednesday's setback, helped set up Olofsson's goal for his 200th career assist.

ABOUT THE KINGS (2-4-0): Jeff Carter reached double digits in goals in each of his first 14 NHL seasons and at least 21 on 11 occasions but remains in search of his first tally of 2019-20 - something coach Todd McLellan feels will come with more hard work. "(He's getting) many more opportunities and chances. He seems to be more engaged in the games," McLellan told reporters. "He was that during (training) camp, and it kind of fell off a little bit the first few games. ... He needs to get rewarded, though, at some point, so he continues to believe what he's doing is the right thing." In addition to Doughty, Adrian Kempe was injured in the loss to Carolina as he required stitches after taking a puck to the face and missed most of the third period.

OVERTIME

1. The Sabres recorded 33 shots Wednesday, with 15 of their 18 skaters registering at least one.

2. Only four teams have scored a fewer amount of power-play goals than the Kings, who are 2-for-21 with the man advantage.

3. Buffalo posted a road victory over Los Angeles last season, ending its seven-game losing streak at Staples Center.

PREDICTION: Sabres 5, Kings 1