BUFFALO vs NY ISLANDERS
When: 2/2/2021 6:00 PM
Where:

TV: 6:00 PM
LINE: 0
PREDICTION: NY ISLANDERS , BUFFALO

Oddsmakers currently have the BUFFALO listed as 110-moneyline favorites versus the NY ISLANDERS, while the game’s total is sitting at 5.5.

A winless five-game road trip isn’t ideal at any time, but enduring it during the first month of a normal regular season is usually the least worst outcome.

Of course, there’s nothing normal about a pandemic-shortened regular season consisting entirely of divisional games, which means, to paraphrase Yogi Berra, it’s already getting late early for the New York Islanders.

The Islanders will hope to snap their winless streak Tuesday night, when they are scheduled to host the Buffalo Sabres in the opener of a three-game homestand in Uniondale, N.Y.

Both teams were off Monday after losing Sunday, when the Islanders ended their road trip with a 4-3 overtime loss to the Philadelphia Flyers and the Sabres fell to the visiting New Jersey Devils, 5-3.

Getting the point provided some short-term solace for the Islanders, who managed to double their point total for the trip by overcoming a two-goal third period deficit to force overtime.

“We’re sitting there after two periods and (with) the way the week has gone, we could’ve just said ‘Let’s get out of here’ and give up,” Islanders head coach Barry Trotz said. “We didn’t. We battled back. I thought they uplifted each other. I felt we were going to get two points. I really did.”

Still, an 0-3-2 trip put the Islanders into an early hole — entering Monday, they were seventh in the East Division, three points behind the fourth-place Pittsburgh Penguins — and made it clear they need to begin playing complete games sooner than later. New York squandered a three-goal lead in a 6-3 loss to the Washington Capitals on Thursday and had to overcome a multi-goal deficit to force overtime in Saturday’s 3-2 loss to the Flyers.

“When we’re successful, we see how we’re playing well and we need to translate that to a full 60 minutes,” Islanders defenseman Nick Leddy said Sunday night.

The Sabres will also be searching for some consistency Tuesday. The loss to the Devils snapped a five-game point streak for Buffalo, which produced its only set of back-to-back wins during the 3-0-2 stretch.

On Sunday, the Sabres fell behind 2-0 by giving up first- and last-minute goals in the first period. Goals late in the second by Curtis Lazar and Rasmus Dahlin had Buffalo on the verge of hitting the intermission in a tie game, but Miles Wood scored for the Devils by putting back his own rebound with a second left in the period.

The Sabres tied the score again when Rasmus Ristolainen scored on the power play 3:53 into the third before Michael McLeod put the Devils ahead for good just beyond the midway point.

“I don’t think we were working smart within the framework we want to work in,” Sabres head coach Ralph Krueger said. “I wouldn’t say we didn’t work. I thought the guys worked hard to get us back from down (2-0) and then down 3-2 again with the late, painful goal.”

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BUFFALO vs KANSAS CITY
When: 1/24/2021 6:40 PM
Where:

TV: 6:40 PM
LINE: -3
PREDICTION: KANSAS CITY , BUFFALO

Oddsmakers currently have the KANSAS CITY listed as -3 point favorites versus the BUFFALO, while the game’s total is sitting at 54.

The good news for the Kansas City Chiefs is that Patrick Mahomes is planning to play.

Mahomes said Friday that he is out of concussion protocol and is ready to start Sunday’s AFC Championship Game that pits the reigning Super Bowl champion Chiefs against the Buffalo Bills at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.

“Talking to all of the doctors and going through all of the testings, we have the belief that I’ll have no lingering effects and I’ll be able to go out there and be who I am,” said Mahomes, who practiced for the third consecutive day on Friday.

Mahomes, 25, also said the toe injury that was bothering him against the Cleveland Browns in the divisional round was “feeling a lot better.”

Last year’s Super Bowl MVP suffered the concussion in the third quarter of Kansas City’s divisional-round game against Cleveland and did not return. Backup Chad Henne and the Chiefs defense held on for a 22-17 victory, in part because Henne scrambled for a big gain and then converted a game-clinching first down with a surprising completion to Tyreek Hill.

“For my preparation, it’s going to stay the same: Prepare like you’re the starter each and every week, no matter what happens,” Henne said earlier in the week. “Whatever does happen, happens. I always stay ready.”

Pretty sound outlook, though when Henne was named the quarterback for the Chiefs’ last regular-season game after they had already clinched the AFC’s No. 1 seed, the start was his first since 2014. The Los Angeles Chargers halted Kansas City’s 10-game win streak, but the Chiefs raced to an early lead against the Browns despite coming off a first-round bye.

It is worth noting that Mahomes sprinted off the field for testing after first wobbling to the sideline against the Browns. Kansas City coach Andy Reid said later that Mahomes sustained an injury to his neck area in addition to the toe injury.

While everyone was awaiting word on Mahomes’ status, the word on the Bills’ Josh Allen is he is playing at a level equal to any quarterback still competing in the postseason.

Considering that list of greats includes Mahomes, Tom Brady, and Aaron Rodgers, Allen is in select company. He doesn’t get distracted by comparisons, though.

“I’m just trying to be the best version of myself,” Allen said. “I’m not trying to compare to the other guys who are arguably some of the best to ever play the game, the ones who are left. I’m just focused on what I can do.”

Ever since a 26-17 loss to the Chiefs in Week 6, the Bills have rolled to 11 wins in 12 games, including eight straight, to gain their first AFC Championship appearance since the 1993 season.

Allen’s steady improvement with the Bills rode a huge uptick this season when he recorded eight 300-yard passing performances.

“He’s poised. I’ve never seen him overly excited,” said Stefon Diggs, whose All-Pro season included NFL highs of 1,535 yards and 127 catches. “For him putting his head down and gaining actual (rushing) yards, things like that go far with us.”

If the matchup comes down to key defensive stops, consider that Buffalo has allowed touchdowns on just two of eight red-zone situations in the playoffs. Taron Johnson converted one into a 101-yard pick-six in the divisional round win against Baltimore.

As for Kansas City, it ranked last in the NFL in red-zone defense, allowing a touchdown rate of 76.6 percent. Yet the Chiefs have held nine opponents to 20 or fewer points.

Two Chiefs playmakers, wideout Sammy Watkins (calf) and running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire (ankle), appear to be back after missing the divisional round. Both players are listed as questionable as are running back Le’Veon Bell (knee), and cornerbacks Bashaud Breeland (concussion/shoulder) and Rashad Fenton (foot).

Linebacker Willie Gay (ankle) will miss the game.

Defensive tackle Vernon Butler (quad) and rookie receiver Gabriel Davis (ankle) are questionable for Buffalo.

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MIAMI vs BUFFALO
When: 1/3/2021 1:00 PM
Where:

TV: 1:00 PM
LINE: -5
PREDICTION: BUFFALO , MIAMI

Oddsmakers currently have the BUFFALO listed as -5 point favorites versus the MIAMI, while the game’s total is sitting at 42.

Miami needs a win in Sunday’s regular-season finale at Buffalo to guarantee its first postseason berth since 2016.

The Dolphins (10-5) can also get into the playoffs with one loss by either the Cleveland Browns, Indianapolis Colts or Baltimore Ravens.

The Bills (12-3) have already clinched their first division title since 1995, but a win would lock up the No. 2 seed in the AFC playoffs.

Miami will be without starting linebacker Elandon Roberts, who suffered a knee injury in last week’s win over the Las Vegas Raiders. Wide receiver/punt returner Jakeem Grant, who suffered an ankle injury against the Raiders, is expected miss the Buffalo game. Three other key Dolphins are questionable: receiver DeVante Parker (hamstring), guard Solomon Kindley (knee) and defensive end Shaq Lawson (shoulder).

For Buffalo, wide receiver Cole Beasley is doubtful due to a knee injury. He ranks second on the team in receptions (82) and receiving yards (967) and has four touchdowns this season.

If Beasley sits, that could open the way for rookie Gabriel Davis and Isaiah McKenzie to get more targets. Starting receiver John Brown (COVID-19 protocol) is already on injured reserve.

At quarterback, the Dolphins will again start rookie Tua Tagovailoa, who was benched in the fourth quarter against the Raiders and replaced by veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick. Even though Fitzpatrick led Miami to victory, Dolphins coach Brian Flores said he is sticking with Tagovailoa as his No. 1.

“Tua has brought us a spark in many other games, but people forget that because they just remember the last thing,” Flores said. “I think Tua has played fairly well. People can disagree. We will agree to disagree in that case.”

Tagovailoa is 6-2 in eight starts this season and has done a good job of avoiding turnovers. His touchdown-to-interception ratio is an impressive 10-2. He is also completing 65.1 percent of his passes for 161.4 yards per game.

At times, however, Tagovailoa has been indecisive, which has led to 19 sacks (sack rate of 7.6 percent).

Fitzpatrick has been sacked 14 times with a sack rate of 5.0 percent, which is a sign that the 38-year-old veteran knows where he wants to go with the ball and gets rid of it quickly.

Overall, Fitzpatrick is completing 68.5 percent of his passes for 232.3 yards per game for 13 touchdowns and eight interceptions. His interception rate is much higher than Tagovailoa’s (3.0 to 0.9).

Fitzpatrick, who has never made the playoffs in his 16-year NFL career, is 4-3 as a starter this season.

For Buffalo, wide receiver Stefon Diggs is the reigning AFC Offensive Player of the Week after catching nine passes for 145 yards and three touchdowns in Monday’s 38-9 road victory against the New England Patriots.

Bills quarterback Josh Allen has 34 touchdown passes this season, breaking Jim Kelly’s previous franchise record. Allen also has eight 300-yard games, which broke the previous team record set by Drew Bledsoe.

So far this season, Allen has passed for 4,320 yards at a completion rate of 69.1 percent.

“The records, this and that, it’s cool,” Allen said. “But the plan is to get us to 13-3 to give us a chance in the playoffs. The records don’t mean much if we can’t get it done.”

That quote ought to answer anyone who doubts the Bills will be playing to win on Sunday.

And a motivated Bills team is dangerous, especially with Diggs, who has already set a franchise record this season with a league-leading 1,459 receiving yards. Diggs, who also leads the NFL with 120 receptions, credits Allen.

“We have a young quarterback who’s balling,” Diggs said.

Buffalo’s top two running backs — Devin Singletary and Zack Moss — both have South Florida roots, and they have combined to rush for 1,153 yards and six TDs this season.

Allen is also a major threat to run, with 418 yards and eight touchdowns. But he has to be wary of turnovers — he has nine interceptions and nine total fumbles (six lost) this season.

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MARSHALL vs BUFFALO
When: 12/25/2020 2:30 PM
Where:

TV: 2:30 PM
LINE: -4.5
PREDICTION: BUFFALO , MARSHALL

Oddsmakers currently have the BUFFALO listed as -4.5 point favorites versus the MARSHALL, while the game’s total is sitting at 54.5.

Marshall and Buffalo have experienced similar football seasons.

Both started with long winning streaks that thrust them into the Top 25 and led to dreams of playing in more lucrative bowl games.

However, the Thundering Herd and Bulls picked the wrong time to stumble, leading to their convergence at Montgomery, Ala., on Christmas Day in the Camellia Bowl.

Marshall (7-2) was ranked as high as 15th after jumping out to a 7-0 start behind a staunch defense and the poised play of freshman quarterback Grant Wells. But the defense slipped just a bit and Wells struggled with turnovers and inconsistency.

After tossing five interceptions in a shutout loss in the regular-season finale against Rice, Wells completed just 8 of 24 pass attempts in the Dec. 18 Conference USA title game. UAB held Marshall scoreless in the first half and earned a 22-13 victory.

“Offensively, we have to play with more confidence,” Thundering Herd coach Doc Holliday said. “We are not making the plays we were making before.”

Nor is the Marshall defense stopping others from making plays, as it had most of the year. UAB owned the ball for more than 41 minutes and finished with 468 total yards, collecting 21 first downs and rushing for 216 yards against the nation’s second-ranked run defense (88.9 yards per game).

Spencer Brown’s 149 yards ended the Herd’s streak of nine consecutive games without allowing 100 yards on the ground.

“We all know what we have to do, and we all know what happened,” Marshall linebacker Eli Neal said. “We all won as a team when we were winning and on our high horse and we lost as a team. That doesn’t make us any less of a team. The pieces just didn’t fall together.”

The Thundering Herd likely will build their bowl offense around running back Brenden Knox, who rushed for 887 yards in nine games and needs 148 to reach 3,000 for his career.

Buffalo went into the Mid-American Conference title game as a heavy favorite over Ball State after going 5-0 behind the sterling running of Jaret Patterson. But the Bulls coughed up 35 first-half points and couldn’t play catch-up in the second half of a 38-28 defeat to the Cardinals in Detroit.

Patterson, whose 301- and 409-yard games in consecutive weeks against Bowling Green and Kent State that put him on the periphery of the Heisman Trophy race, was held to 47 yards on 18 carries by Ball State. He also injured his right knee and was limited during the second half.

According to Bulls coach Lance Leipold, Patterson plans to play on Friday.

“We’ll see where it’s at, we’ll have to look at it,” Leipold said. “We’ll have to get to work on it and see where we’re at from an availability standpoint.”

Kyle Vantrease has been an efficient passer for the Bulls, hitting 63 percent of his passes for 1,186 yards with seven touchdowns and only two interceptions.

This will be the first time the teams have met since 2004, when Marshall was in the MAC. The Herd won that contest 48-14.

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BUFFALO vs NEW ENGLAND
When: 12/28/2020 8:15 PM
Where:

TV: 8:15 PM
LINE: 7
PREDICTION: NEW ENGLAND , BUFFALO

Oddsmakers currently have the NEW ENGLAND listed as 7 point favorites versus the BUFFALO, while the game’s total is sitting at 46.

The Buffalo Bills likely could be forgiven if they find themselves looking past Monday’s opponent and toward the playoffs.

Then again, the AFC East champion Bills (11-3) might be more interested in making a statement against the New England Patriots (6-8) in Foxborough, Mass. After all, the Patriots essentially have owned the division since Bill Belichick brought his hoodie to their sideline, and Buffalo hasn’t swept its AFC East rival since 1999.

“To go against a division opponent and be able to beat them both times, that’s a big deal,” Bills cornerback Tre’Davious White said. “I guess this year’s the year of breaking streaks or whatever. So I hope that’s the case.”

New England’s 11-year reign atop the division effectively came to an end at the hands (and feet) of Josh Allen, who recorded four touchdowns (two passing, two rushing) in a 48-19 win in Denver on Saturday. The performance allowed Buffalo to capture its first AFC East title since 1995 and land Allen his fourth AFC Offensive Player of the Week honor of the season.

With Allen at the controls, the Bills boast the NFL’s second-ranked passing offense (278.5 yards per game) and fifth-ranked scoring offense (29.1 points).

Fellow first-time Pro Bowl selection Stefon Diggs has done his fair share in opening up the offense for Allen.

Diggs’ 111 receptions lead the NFL while his career-high 1,314 receiving yards trail only Arizona’s DeAndre Hopkins (1,324) and Kansas City’s Travis Kelce (1,318) for most the league. Diggs had 11 catches for 147 yards versus the Broncos.

Diggs was listed as a full participant in Thursday’s practice despite injuring his foot against Denver. The same held true for Allen (knee, ankle) and White (neck), but offensive tackle Ty Nsekhe (groin) did not practice on Thursday.

Although Buffalo enters Monday’s contest with momentum, coach Sean McDermott was quick to pump the brakes should his team entertain the notion of looking past the Patriots.

“It’s the defending AFC East champs that have held that position for multiple, multiple, multiple years,” McDermott said. “It’s one of the greatest — if not the greatest — coach ever to coach our game. They’re going to be prepared, they’re going to be well-coached, and they’ll be ready to go.”

But which quarterback will be ready to go? Belichick hasn’t tipped his hand whether Cam Newton or Jarrett Stidham would be under center, although Newton appeared focused on the Bills on Thursday.

“We have to stay on schedule offensively, not only moving the ball but actually executing even more in the red zone and actually scoring touchdowns,” Newton said. “We can’t just settle for field goals, we have to make sure that we maximize our scoring opportunities.”

Newton was held without a touchdown pass for the eighth time this season in New England’s 22-12 setback to Miami on Sunday. The former NFL MVP found the end zone with his legs in a 24-21 loss at Buffalo on Nov. 1.

The Patriots listed 20 players as limited in Thursday’s practice, including leading rusher Damien Harris (ankle) and special teams ace Matthew Slater (knee). Reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year Stephon Gilmore was placed on injured reserve earlier in the week.

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NY JETS vs BUFFALO
When: 9/13/2020 1:00 PM
Where:

TV: 1:00 PM
LINE: -6
PREDICTION: BUFFALO , NY JETS

Oddsmakers currently have the BUFFALO listed as -6 point favorites versus the NY JETS, while the game’s total is sitting at 40.

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BUFFALO vs DALLAS
When: 4:30 PM ET, Thursday, November 28, 2019
Where: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas

TV: 4:30 PM
LINE: -6.5
PREDICTION: DALLAS , BUFFALO

Oddsmakers currently have the DALLAS listed as -6.5 point favorites versus the BUFFALO, while the game’s total is sitting at 44.5.

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BUFFALO vs NY GIANTS
When: 1:00 PM ET, Sunday, September 15, 2019
Where: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey

TV: 1 p.m. ET, CBS.
LINE: Bills -1.5.
O/U: 44
PREDICTION: Bills 24, Giants 14

Oddsmakers currently have the NY GIANTS listed as 1.5 point favorites versus the BUFFALO, while the game’s total is sitting at 44.

After using an impressive comeback to defeat one team that resides at MetLife Stadium, the Buffalo Bills go for a sweep when they visit the New York Giants on Sunday. Buffalo allowed the first 16 points in its season opener before rallying in the second half to post a 17-16 road victory over the New York Jets.

Josh Allen orchestrated a pair of touchdown drives in the fourth quarter, scoring on a 3-yard scramble to get the Bills within 16-10 before connecting with John Brown for a 38-yard TD with three minutes remaining. Allen’s late heroics helped atone for his earlier play, as he became the first NFL quarterback to commit four turnovers (two interceptions, two fumbles) in a victory since 2013. Unlike Buffalo, the Giants got off to a good start in their opener before things went downill in their 35-17 loss at Dallas. New York struggled against the pass, allowing 16.2 yards per completion, and surrendered seven overall plays of 20 or more yards – including three for at least 35.

ABOUT THE BILLS (1-0): Rookie linebacker Tyrel Dodson will have to wait a while to make his NFL debut as he received a six-game suspension from the league for violating its personal conduct policy. The 21-year-old from Texas A&M, who pled guilty to misdemeanor disorderly conduct on Wednesday after facing three charges for an incident involving his girlfriend in May, was on the commissioner’s exempt list for Week 1 and won’t be eligible to return to the team until Oct. 28. Brown proved to be a big-play threat for Buffalo last week, making a 28-yard catch to go with his game-winning touchdown reception.

ABOUT THE GIANTS (0-1): New York’s defense could be in for another difficult day, as Buffalo recorded six plays of 20 or more yards last week, but defensive coordinator James Bettcher has confidence in his players’ ability to bounce back. “I love the character of this group because there is no crumbling at the knees,” he told reporters. “There is no pointing fingers, there’s a lot of ownership and there is a lot of accountability in this group.” With wide receiver Sterling Shepard (six catches, 42 yards) in concussion protocol, more may be expected of tight end Evan Engram, who set career highs last week with 11 receptions and 116 yards.

EXTRA POINTS

1. The Giants recorded 470 total yards in their season opener but were just 2-for-11 on third down.

2. Buffalo has allowed fewer than 210 passing yards in nine consecutive games, its longest such streak since 2004 and the longest run in the NFL since Seattle’s 13-game stretch from 2013-14.

3. New York placed LB Kareem Martin (knee) on injured reserve and signed WR TJ Jones, who was released on Aug. 31 after leading the team in receptions during the preseason.

PREDICTION: Bills 24, Giants 14

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BUFFALO vs NY JETS
When: 1:00 PM ET, Sunday, September 8, 2019
Where: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey

TV: 1 p.m. ET, CBS.
LINE: Jets -3.
O/U: 40.5
PREDICTION: Jets 21, Bills 20

Oddsmakers currently have the NY JETS listed as -3 point favorites versus the BUFFALO, while the game’s total is sitting at 38.5.

With a new head coach, a new star running back and a second-year quarterback poised to take the next step, there is some optimism surrounding the New York Jets entering the 2019 season. Their bid to end an eight-year playoff drought begins Sunday at home against the AFC East rival Buffalo Bills.

Adam Gase was brought to New York to patrol the sidelines after three years at the helm in Miami, and he hopes for good things out of Le’Veon Bell — who sat out last year after compiling nearly 2,000 total yards with Pittsburgh in 2017 — and signal-caller Sam Darnold. “We’ll probably have some ups and downs and some adversity, but we’ll figure out what kind of team we have, especially in that first quarter of the season,” Gase recently told reporters. The Bills will be leaning on a second-year quarterback of their own in Josh Allen, who threw for 2,074 yards in 12 games and electrified the offense at times with his legs, rushing for 631 yards and eight touchdowns. Included in Allen’s promising rookie campaign was a matchup with the Jets on Dec. 9 in which he ran nine times for 101 yards and a score.

ABOUT THE BILLS (2018: 6-10, 3RD IN AFC EAST): Allen will look for support from a backfield that jettisoned veteran LeSean McCoy last weekend and has new faces in the ageless Frank Gore and rookie standout Devin Singletary. Cole Beasley, who had 65 catches a year ago with Dallas, gives Allen a seasoned target in the slot, and former 1,000-yard man John Brown also joins the receving corps. Rookie defensive tackle Ed Oliver had a strong preseason and will be a key cog in a promising defense that allowed just 294.1 yards per game last year — second-fewest in the NFL.

ABOUT THE JETS (2018: 4-12, 4TH IN AFC EAST): For his part, Bell seems more than ready to reassert himself as one of the league’s top backs, despite having not played in almost 19 months and seeing no game action in the preseason. “I can carry 50 (times) if you ask me,” Bell told reporters. “When I say, ‘Don’t hold back,’ I mean literally that. I don’t want to go out there and try to sprinkle me in or anything like that. I’m ready to play football. I’ve been waiting a long time for this moment. A lot of people are excited to see me play. Quadruple that, and that’s how I feel.” Bell will be trying to revive a ground attack that ranked 29th in the NFL in yards per carry (4.0) in 2018 and was held to 90 yards or fewer eight times in the final 10 games.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Darnold was 16-for-24 for 170 yards with a TD and an interception in his one meeting with the Bills as a rookie.

2. Buffalo has won three of its last five games in New York, including a 41-10 laugher last November in which it outgained the Jets 451-199.

3. The divisional foes do not meet again until a Week 17 matchup in Buffalo on Dec. 29.

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LOS ANGELES KINGS vs BUFFALO SABRES
When: 7:00 PM  ET, Tuesday, December 11, 2018
Where: KeyBank Center, Buffalo, New York

TV: 7:00 PM
LINE:
PREDICTION: BUFFALO , LOS ANGELES

Oddsmakers currently have the LOS ANGELES listed as -1.5 moneyline favorites versus the BUFFALO, while the game’s total is sitting at 5.5.

Despite Jack Eichel’s recent offensive surge, the Buffalo Sabres have gone without a victory since having their 10-game winning streak halted late in November. The Sabres attempt to end their five-game slide (0-3-2) when they continue a four-game homestand Tuesday against the Los Angeles Kings.

Eichel has been a bright spot during Buffalo’s winless streak, recording four two-point performances – including two-goal efforts in each of the first two contests of the team’s stretch at KeyBank Center. The 22-year-old captain, who had gone seven games without a goal and notched just one in 16 contests before the outburst, is one away from joining Jeff Skinner as the only Sabres in double digits. Los Angeles’ four-game road trip got off to a rough start as it dropped a 3-1 decision in Detroit for its fifth defeat in seven overall contests. Captain Anze Kopitar scored late in the third period to avoid a shutout for the Kings, who have recorded a total of four goals during their three-game skid away from home.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, Sportsnet One, Sportsnet East, Sportsnet Ontario, FS West (Los Angeles), MSG (Buffalo)

ABOUT THE KINGS (11-19-1): Kopitar’s goal against the Red Wings was his eighth of the season, tying him with Dustin Brown for the team lead and ending his seven-game drought. The 31-year-old Slovenian, who netted a career-high 35 tallies last season, needs two to reach 300 for his career. Brown has collected five goals and four assists over his last nine contests after helping set up Kopitar’s tally on Monday.

ABOUT THE SABRES (17-9-4): Buffalo hopes to start receiving scoring from other sources as the top line of Sam Reinhart (five), Eichel (four) and Skinner has recorded 10 of the team’s 12 goals over the last five games. Reinhart’s eruption has been a welcome one, however, as the 23-year-old – who had scored only three times in his first 25 contests this season – has collected five tallies and four assists during his career-high six-game point streak. The Sabres could use some help from their power play as well, as it has gone just 1-for-14 over the last six contests.

OVERTIME

1. Skinner has notched 30 points in as many games and is 19 away from matching his total over 82 contests with Carolina last season.

2. Los Angeles recalled D Sean Walker from Ontario of the American Hockey League prior to Monday’s game, but the 24-year-old was a healthy scratch.

3. Buffalo G Carter Hutton (upper body) has been on the ice two straight days and is expected to return to action this week.

PREDICTION: Sabres 3, Kings 2

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