Buffalo @ Boston preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 4, 2018 ) Boston 4, Buffalo 0

It has been a month of streaks for the Boston Bruins thus far, and they hope to avoid another one Saturday as they host the Buffalo Sabres. Boston began December with three straight losses but bounced back to post three consecutive victories before dropping a 5-3 decision at Pittsburgh on Friday.

Chris Wagner and David Krejci scored 54 seconds apart in the third period to erase a 3-1 deficit for the Bruins, who went on to suffer their fourth loss in five road games. Krejci has collected three goals and five assists during a five-game point streak that has followed a four-game drought. Buffalo is coming off a 4-3 shootout loss at Washington on Saturday in which it took a lead after trailing by a goal, only to cough it up. Captain Jack Eichel scored twice for the Sabres, giving him seven tallies and two assists during his five-game point streak.

TV: 5 p.m. ET, NHL Network, MSG Buffalo, NESN (Boston)

ABOUT THE SABRES (19-9-5): Eichel has tallied in four of the five contests during his streak, registering three two-goal performances in that span. Buffalo welcomed Marco Scandella back to the lineup Saturday after the defenseman missed eight games with an upper-body injury. The 28-year-old defenseman registered two shots, three hits and two blocks in just over 23 1/2 minutes of ice time.

ABOUT THE BRUINS (17-11-4): Boston's fourth line was perhaps its best in the loss to the Penguins as Wagner, Sean Kuraly and Noel Acciari combined to register four points and 14 hits. The 27-year-old Acciari, who has recorded just one point - an assist - in 26 games this season, was back in the lineup after being a healthy scratch for the team's previous three contests. Defenseman Brandon Carlo ended his lengthy drought on Friday, scoring his first goal since March 4, 2017 - halting his stretch of futility at 115 games.

OVERTIME

1. Bruins RW David Pastrnak leads the team with 39 points and is riding a five-game streak during which he has registered two goals and seven assists.

2. Buffalo recalled D Matt Hunwick from his conditioning stint with Rochester of the American Hockey League and indefinitely suspended C Patrik Berglund, who has missed the last three games, for failing to report to the team.

3. Boston LW Brad Marchand also is streaking, as he has amassed three goals and six assists during his four-game run.

PREDICTION: Bruins 4, Sabres 3