Buffalo @ Calgary preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 27, 2019 ) Calgary 3, Buffalo 2

The Calgary Flames have enjoyed a lengthy respite on the heels of a hectic November that featured a very public coaching change. Interim head coach Geoff Ward, who initially took the reins for the first time in Buffalo last week, will bid to guide the Flames to a season sweep of the Sabres on Thursday.

Elias Lindholm scored on a wraparound in Calgary's 3-2 overtime victory over Buffalo on Nov. 27 before tallying twice three nights later in a 3-1 triumph over Ottawa. The 25-year-old Swede has four of his team-leading 14 goals in his last four games after being held off the scoresheet in his each of his previous six contests. While the Flames are in the midst of playing seven of nine at Scotiabank Saddledome, the Sabres are beginning a three-game road trip on Thursday and play six of their next eight outside of Western New York. Rookie Victor Olofsson scored in the previous encounter with Calgary and added a goal and an assist on Monday in Buffalo's 7-1 romp over New Jersey.

TV: 9 p.m. ET, MSG-Buffalo, Sportsnet West (Calgary)

ABOUT THE SABRES (13-10-5): Captain Jack Eichel set his sights on scoring more goals in his fifth season, and he's well on pace to shatter his career-high total of 28 with a team-leading 17 through 28 games in 2019-20. "It's been a good start in terms of finding the back of the net," the 23-year-old said. "I just want to keep it going. It's all about consistency and bringing it every night." Eichel followed up an assist against Calgary with two three-point performances over his next three outings to extend his point streak to 10 games (nine goals, 10 assists).

ABOUT THE FLAMES (13-12-4): Ward got a bit creative with his line combinations during Wednesday's practice, with Lindholm centering Matthew Tkachuk and Andrew Mangiapane on the wings while Sean Monahan did the same with Mikael Backlund and Dillon Dube. "We'll sit down with the coaches after they get off the ice and we'll throw a lineup together for (Thursday)," Ward told the Calgary Sun. "We wanted to give everybody a couple days together, just like we talked about yesterday, to find out a lot of different things about different combinations of players. Now, we'll sit down and have a discussion and see what we want to put out there against Buffalo (Thursday)." David Rittich is expected to receive his first start since Saturday, although two days later he received NHL's Second Star of the Week honors after turning aside 95 of 101 shots -- including 34 of 36 against the Sabres.

OVERTIME

1. Buffalo's Linus Ullmark boasts a 3-0-1 mark in his last four starts, with the lone blemish coming after a 26-save performance versus Calgary.

2. Flames D Travis Hamonic is expected to return following a six-game absence due to a lower-body injury.

3. Sabres Fs Kyle Okposo (concussion) and Evan Rodrigues (lower body) traveled with the team to begin the road trip.

PREDICTION: Sabres 3, Flames 2