Detroit @ Buffalo preview

Last Meeting ( Feb 9, 2019 ) Detroit 1, Buffalo 3

Getting away from home turned out to be the best thing for the Detroit Red Wings, who are trying to finish the season on a high note following a disastrous month-long stretch. Winners of four of their last five overall, the Red Wings will wrap up a five-game road trip with a visit to the reeling Buffalo Sabres on Thursday night.

Detroit had dropped 12 of 13 (1-9-3) before knocking off the New York Islanders at home, a springboard to a 3-1-0 road trip that has featured back-to-back wins over Vegas and San Jose. "I think these are obviously unbelievable teams and ... for us to come here on the road and show what we can do is huge for our team's success and our confidence in this room," rookie Taro Hirose said. The Sabres have slowly unraveled since winning 10 straight in November and have dropped 18 of their last 20 (3-15-2), including four in a row. "I just don't think we have that sense of urgency every time that we step on the ice," forward Kyle Okposo said. "We've got six games left, we've got to show some emotion, we've got to play."

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

ABOUT THE RED WINGS (28-38-10): Detroit's top goal scorers paved the way in Monday's 3-2 win at San Jose, with Andreas Athanasiou registering his team-high 29th tally and Dylan Larkin notching his 28th. Hirose, who signed with Detroit after completing his season at Michigan State, collected an assist on the goal by Athanasiou to give him one in each of his first four games. "He's really impressive, It doesn't seem like there's any panic in his game ever," Larkin said. "He's so calm with the puck. It's clear that he wants to hold onto it and make plays."

ABOUT THE SABRES (31-36-9): The frustrations are boiling over in Buffalo, which has scored two goals of fewer in seven of its last nine games and was blanked four times in that span. "Everyone has to be better, this is the National Hockey League," captain Jack Eichel said after Tuesday's 4-0 loss at league-worst Ottawa. "We've got to be better, everyone, myself, everybody. Everybody has to be better. We can't go out and play like that and expect to win." Eichel, who is one goal shy of 100 for his career, has 10 points in 13 meetings versus Detroit.

OVERTIME

1. Buffalo has won seven of the past nine meetings, including both this season.

2. Athanasiou, who has scored five times in the past five games, needs one to become the first Detroit player to hit 30 since 2008-09.

3. Sabres F Jeff Skinner has matched his career high of 37 goals but has scored only once in 19 games.

PREDICTION: Red Wings 4, Sabres 3