The Vancouver Canucks (16-20-5) kick off a six-game Eastern road trip tonight as they face the Buffalo Sabres (21-15-4) at Key Bank Arena, with the puck dropping at 4 PM PT. The Canucks are looking to build on their recent form, having earned points in back-to-back games, but their overall performance has been shaky, with only one win in their last six matchups.
This morning in Buffalo, the Canucks held an optional skate as they prepared for the Sabres. Based on the previous day’s practice, it appears they will likely stick to a similar lineup to the one used in their recent 3-2 overtime loss against the Boston Bruins. Goaltender Thatcher Demko returns to the crease, looking to end a personal winless streak that spans four games (0-3-1), with his last victory coming against the New York Islanders on December 19th. P-O Joseph is set to take the ice in place of Elias Pettersson on the blue line.
Despite the loss to the Bruins, the Canucks showcased strong offensive capabilities, outshooting Boston 33-20 and demonstrating dominance at even strength with a 26-19 advantage in scoring chances. Elias Pettersson, who has scored twice in the last four games, and Filip Hronek, who netted a power-play goal while logging a career-high 30:01 of ice time, lead the team in scoring with 25 points each halfway through the season. Additionally, the Canucks have managed to secure at least a point in seven of their last ten games (5-3-2) and hold an impressive 12-8-2 record on the road this season.
On the opposing side, the Sabres are looking to bounce back after their 10-game winning streak was halted by a 5-1 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday. Despite this setback, the Sabres had outscored their opponents 35-18 during the streak, and they are determined to reclaim their position as they strive to end a 14-year playoff drought—the longest in the NHL. Forward Tage Thompson leads Buffalo with 20 goals and 37 points, while Alex Tuch follows closely with 12 goals and 32 points. The Sabres have proven formidable at home this season, amassing a 12-5-2 record at Key Bank Arena and showcasing league-leading penalty-killing stats.
In their previous encounter this season, the Sabres narrowly edged out the Canucks with a 3-2 victory in Vancouver. That match marked Quinn Hughes’ final game as a Canuck before his trade to Minnesota, with Vancouver notably outshooting Buffalo 32-15 overall.
Fans can tune in to Rink Wide Vancouver for full postgame coverage, including analysis and discussion, immediately following the game. This matchup presents an exciting opportunity for both teams as they face off with aspirations of boosting their positions in their respective conferences.