Buffalo @ Tampa Bay preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 13, 2018 ) Tampa Bay 1, Buffalo 2

The Buffalo Sabres go after a historic victory and attempt to make a major statement when they visit the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday night for an Atlantic Division showdown. The Sabres can break the franchise record for consecutive victories with their 11th in a row and win for the fourth time in five tries against the high-flying Lightning, including a 2-1 triumph in Buffalo on Nov. 13.

“We’re just trying to keep improving,” Sabres leading scorer Jeff Skinner told reporters Tuesday after his overtime goal beat San Jose 3-2. “Each night we’ve had guys step up and make big plays at key moment. There are still things we want to work on in our game. We have to continue to do that in this league. Teams are too good.” One thing Buffalo would like to do is make it easier on itself as the Sabres have won seven games after regulation during their longest streak since opening the 2006-07 season with 10 straight wins. The Lightning sit one point behind first-place Buffalo entering Wednesday after suffering a 3-1 loss to Anaheim on Tuesday after opening their five-game homestand with three straight victories. Tampa Bay had a 35-22 edge in shots and drew a 5-on-3 power play in the third period, but came up short as coach Jon Cooper told reporters: “Usually in a game like that, we get three or four. Tip my hat to the goalie (Ryan Miller).”

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, MSG Buffalo, FS Sun (Tampa Bay)

ABOUT THE SABRES (17-6-2): Skinner’s goal Tuesday was his fifth during a four-game streak and 19th overall to tie for the league lead entering Wednesday’s schedule while the first-year Buffalo forward owns a team-best plus-15 rating. Captain Jack Eichel saw his six-game point streak come to an end against San Jose, but leads the team in points with 28 - one better than Skinner. Rasmus Ristolainen scored Tuesday and has two goals to go along with six assists during Buffalo’s win streak while fellow defenseman Rasmus Dahlin, a 18-year-old rookie, is a plus-9 over the last 10 games.

ABOUT THE LIGHTNING (17-7-1): Right wing Nikita Kucherov set up the only tally in Tuesday’s loss to extend his point streak to seven games (two goals, 13 assists) while linemate Brayden Point scored his ninth goal in seven games and team-best 18th overall. The line of J.T. Miller, captain Steven Stamkos and Yanni Gourde has been kept off the scoresheet in three straight games after combining for eight points in the win over Florida to open the homestand. Defenseman Anton Stralman (upper body) is expected out at least another week, but left wing Ondrej Palat (lower body) is close to a return.

OVERTIME

1. The Lightning recalled G Connor Ingram and reassigned G Eddie Pasquale to Syracuse of the American Hockey League on Wednesday.

2. Buffalo G Carter Hutton has won eight straight decisions, allowing two goals or fewer six times in that stretch.

3. Tampa Bay D Ryan McDonagh was tied for the league lead with a plus-17 rating entering Wednesday.

PREDICTION: Lightning 4, Sabres 2