Arizona @ Buffalo preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 13, 2018 ) Buffalo 3, Arizona 0

Captain Jack Eichel has been consistent with his production regardless if his team is enjoying a franchise high-tying 10-game win streak or its recently snapped five-game winless skid (0-3-2). The 22-year-old Eichel has recorded multi-point performances in three straight contests and five of his last six heading into Thursday's outing against the Arizona Coyotes at KeyBank Center in Buffalo.

"It's been more consistent this year where I've been happier with myself after games, where I'm not questioning my game as much," Eichel said. "I know I've just recently started to score but I felt like I was due for it with the amount of chances I was getting." The former Hobey Baker Award winner hasn't been shy about testing goaltenders, registering an NHL-high 138 shots heading into Wednesday's action after peppering 10 on goal the previous night in a 4-3 overtime win over Los Angeles. While Buffalo overcame a two-goal deficit against the Kings, Arizona let a two-goal advantage go by the boards on Tuesday as it allowed four goals in a 4:50 stretch in the second period en route to a 4-3 setback to Boston. "We played a good hockey game for 50 (minutes)," Coyotes coach Rick Tocchet said. "Two-nothing, there, we backed off again. It's very frustrating. We cannot back off. That's something that we've got to keep pressing here. It's a learning process."

TV: 7 p.m. ET, FS Arizona, MSG-Buffalo

ABOUT THE COYOTES (13-14-2): Nick Schmaltz continued his torrid pace by scoring a goal for the second straight outing and boosting his point total to seven (four goals, three assists) in seven games since being acquired from Chicago. Clayton Keller is also averaging a point per contest over his last eight outings, scoring three goals and setting up five others in that stretch. Darcy Kuemper returned after missing nearly three weeks with a lower-body injury to make 22 saves versus the Bruins on Tuesday.

ABOUT THE SABRES (18-9-4): Defenseman Marco Scandella took a major step toward returning to the game action by skating in practice on Wednesday for the first time since heading to injured reserve with an upper-body ailment. "It wasn't a bump-and-grind type of practice, but I liked him when he was out there, moving the puck, getting involved, a little physicality at the end there," coach Phil Housley told the Buffalo News. Scandella has missed his team's last seven games after playing in all 82 last season.

OVERTIME

1. Buffalo LW Jeff Skinner (team-leading 21 goals) scored a goal and set up another in a 3-0 win at Arizona on Oct. 13 to boost his point total to seven (three goals, four assists) in his last six games in the series.

2. Coyotes C Alex Galchenyuk has recorded 18 points (seven goals, 11 assists) in 23 career meetings with the Sabres.

3. Buffalo C Sam Reinhart has five goals and as many assists during his career-high seven-game point streak while D Rasmus Ristolainen has 11 points (one goal, 10 assists) in his last 11 contests.

PREDICTION: Sabres 5, Coyotes 3