Sabers vs. Golden Knights | How to watch, lineup notes, and storylines

After practically a month away, the Buffalo Sabers are lastly again in motion at KeyBank Center, taking up the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday at 7 pm

Buffalo returned from the Olympic break and took care of enterprise on a difficult street journey, beating the New Jersey Devils, Florida Panthers and first-place Tampa Bay Lightning, all in regulation, within the span of 4 days.

Saturday’s 6-2 blowout in Tampa additional legitimized these Sabers as Eastern Conference contenders. The Lightning – particularly goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy – had been practically unbeatable for months, however the visiting Sabers wanted simply 22 minutes to construct a 5-0 lead and finish Vasilevskiy’s night time with a “mercy pull,” within the phrases of Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper.

Now a pressure on the street (16-2-1 since Dec. 9), Buffalo seems to proceed placing on a present for its house crowd, too. Despite shedding to Montreal and Pittsburgh at KeyBank Center earlier than the break, the Sabers personal a .661 house factors share (17-8-3) this season, tied for sixth finest within the NHL.

Tuesday’s crowd ought to have some additional juice as Buffalo honors Tage Thompson and Team USA for his or her Olympic gold medal. The ahead thrived with three objectives in Milan and has stayed scorching with the Sabres, gathering 4 factors (2+2) in the course of the street journey.

“I’m excited to see those towels being waved,” Thompson stated. “I heard it’s already sold out, so (the) place will be rocking. Boys are playing good hockey right now, too, so I think everyone’s excited.”

Here are all the main points earlier than puck drop.