Scott Darling is expected to start in net when the Chicago Blackhawks visit the Buffalo Sabres for the second half of a back-to-back Sunday at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, N.Y.
It’s the second and final regular-season meeting between the two teams. Chicago (35-18-5) won the first outing, 4-3 in overtime, Jan. 5 in Chicago. Buffalo native Patrick Kane tallied the game-winner just 56 seconds into the extra frame. He also had two assists in the win.
The Blackhawks had a five-game win streak coming off their bye week, but it was snapped in a 3-1 home loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday. Chicago didn’t have an issue generating offense as they recorded 39 shots on net, but just couldn’t get more than one past Edmonton.
In the loss, captain Jonathan Toews recorded his 600th NHL career point on an assist. He’s just the third player from the 2006 NHL Draft class to reach the milestone, joining Nicklas Backstrom (702) and Phil Kessel (807).
While the Hawks are getting back into the swing of things, the Sabres (26-23-10) are heading to their bye week. The Hawks liked what they saw from the Sabres on Saturday, a 3-2 win over the St. Louis Blues. Buffalo’s win ended St. Louis’ six-game win streak.
Buffalo goaltender Robin Lehner made 37 saves against St. Louis for the win. Evander Kane led the offensive attack with a goal and an assist to reach the 20-goal mark for the second straight season. Evander Kane has been lighting up the scoresheet of late with six goals in his past six games.
For more on the Sabres, visit SB Nation’s Die By The Blade.
Lineups
Blackhawks
Forwards
Schmaltz-Toews-Panik
Panarin-Anisimov-Kane
Hartman-Kero-Hossa
Rasmussen-Kruger-Desjardins
Defensemen
Keith-Hjalmarsson
Kempny-Seabrook
Campbell-TVR
Goalie
Crawford
Darling
Sabres
Forwards
Bailey-O’Reilly-Okposo
Kane-Eichel-Baptiste
Foligno-Rodrigues-Gionta
Moulson-Deslauriers-Ennis
Defensemen
McCabe-Ristolainen
Gorges-Franson
Kulikov-Bogosian
Goalie
Lehner
Nilsson
*Lines will be updated if necessary
How to watch Blackhawks at Sabres
Time: 5 p.m. CST
Where: KeyBank Center; Buffalo, N.Y.
TV: NBCSN
Live stream: NBC Sports Live