Vancouver @ Buffalo preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 7, 2019 ) Buffalo 5, Vancouver 6

The Vancouver Canucks enjoyed a little warmer weather, but virtually nothing else during their few days in the Sunshine State while coughing up 14 goals in a pair of lopsided losses that followed a promising seven-game win streak. The Canucks look to get back on track in the northern portion of their five-game road trip when they visit the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday afternoon.

Vancouver, which beat Buffalo 6-5 in overtime on Dec. 7 at home, were throttled by red-hot Tampa Bay 9-2 on Tuesday before giving up two goals in the first 3 minutes, 1 second of Thursday’s 5-2 setback at Florida. “You want your team to be consistent, and that’s something that’s not always easy when you’re young,” Canucks coach Travis Green told Sportsnet. “You’re going to have some ups and downs and teaching moments along the way with a young group. Certain teams are a little more fragile than others. When you have young players, that’s part of it as well.” The Sabres won back-to-back games last week after losing seven of the previous eight, but could not continue the streak Thursday as they dropped a 5-1 decision at reigning Stanley Cup champion St. Louis. “When you don’t play for five days, you’re not going to be a crisp as you usually are when you’re playing a lot,” Buffalo captain Jack Eichel told reporters. “But we were rested. We should have had a lot of energy. I just don’t think our game ever got going.”

TIME: 1 p.m. ET. TV: MSG Buffalo, Sportsnet

ABOUT THE SABRES (19-18-7): Eichel scored the only goal Thursday to move within one of his career high of 28 set last season and leads the team with 56 points - five in his last five contests. Fellow forward Sam Reinhart moved into a tie for second on the team at 35 points (four in three games) with an assist Thursday and should soon move past rookie Victor Olofsson, who was placed on injured reserve Wednesday with a lower-body injury. Linus Ullmark (13-12-3, .910 save percentage) has started eight straight games, but Carter Hutton (6-6-4, .894) could get a start Saturday or Sunday at Detroit.

ABOUT THE CANUCKS (23-17-4): Right wing Brock Boeser scored Thursday and boasts 17 points in his last 17 games to sit second on the team with 41 - behind only center Elias Pettersson (46), who has two goals and three assists in his last four contests. Forward J.T. Miller is third on the team with 40 points, but was kept off the scoresheet in the last three games, while defenseman Tyler Myers has produced three goals and two assists in his last five contests. Goalie Jacob Markstrom (15-12-3, .914 SP) should be back in net after seeing his six-game win streak end Tuesday at Tampa Bay (six goals against).

OVERTIME

1. Buffalo RW Michael Frolik had two shots, three hits and two blocks in 16:44 of ice time during his team debut Thursday.

2. Vancouver F Tanner Pearson has three goals and four assists in his last five games, and needs one score for 100 in his career.

3. The Sabres are 1-for-20 on the power play in their last eight games while the Canucks are 0-for-10 in the past three.

PREDICTION: Canucks 3, Sabres 2