Buffalo @ Vancouver preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 18, 2019 ) Buffalo 3, Vancouver 4

Since winning their first three home games of the season, the Vancouver Canucks have not posted back-to-back victories at Rogers Arena, a drought they have a chance to end Saturday afternoon. Idle since beating Ottawa on Tuesday for only their fifth win in 15 games (5-8-2), the Canucks continue a four-game homestand against the Buffalo Sabres.

Vancouver finished 25th in scoring last season (2.67 goals per game) but currently ranks eighth (3.24) after scoring at least five goals for the 12th time. “I think a big thing for us is depth this year,” Canucks captain Bo Horvat said. “Now we’ve got three lines that can score." Buffalo has not won back-to-back games in 6 1/2 weeks and has lost 14 of 19 (5-10-4) since its sizzling 8-1-1 start. The Sabres have lost six of their last seven (1-5-1) away from home after opening a three-game road trip with a 4-3 setback at Calgary on Thursday.

TV: 4 p.m. ET, MSG-Buffalo, Sportsnet (Vancouver)

ABOUT THE SABRES (13-11-5): Buffalo's power play, among the league's best for the first two weeks of the season, has converted only 3 of 47 chances since Nov. 1, including 1-for-8 Thursday. "I think we've just got to keep it simple," rookie Victor Olofsson said. "Maybe have a little bit more 5-on-5 mentality and just go in and win some battles and take pucks to the net. It sounds kind of boring, but I think that's what we've got to do right now." Kyle Okposo (concussion), out the past 10 games, could rejoin the lineup Saturday.

ABOUT THE CANUCKS (14-11-4): Forward Antoine Roussel, sidelined since undergoing surgery in March to repair a torn ACL, made a flashy return to the lineup Tuesday by scoring on his first shift versus Ottawa. "I couldn't have written it better," Roussel said. "First shift, first goal, it was awesome. It takes a lot of pressure off my shoulders. I still have a long road to play perfect hockey. It's a step in the right direction." Netminder Jacob Markstrom is expected back after attending his father's funeral in Sweden.

OVERTIME

1. Canucks F J.T. Miller has four goals and five assists during a seven-game point streak.

2. Sabres captain Jack Eichel has 20 points (10 goals, 10 assists) during an 11-game streak

3. Canucks D Quinn Hughes has 11 assists during his last nine games.

PREDICTION: Canucks 4, Sabres 3