Preview: Bruins return home to face Sabres

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Photo by Ben Ludeman/NHLI via Getty Images

Finally back!

Just the facts

When: Tonight, 7 PM

Where: TD Garden — Boston, Mass.

How to follow: NESN, 98.5 The Sports Hub

Opposing perspective:Die By The Blade

Know your enemy

  • 11-17-4, 26PTS, last in the Atlantic Division
  • Tage Thompson: 16G-9A-25PTS; Alex Tuch: 9G-16A-25PTS; JJ Peterka: 8G-13A-21PTS; Jason Zucker: 8G-13A-21PTS
  • Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen: 8-10-3, 3.00 GAA, .896 save percentage; James Reimer: 1-3-1, 3.35 GAA, .884 save percentage

Game notes

  • The Boston Bruins are back home from their two-week road trip to face the Buffalo Sabres for the first time this season tonight.
  • They'll see the Sabres next on Jan. 28, March 17 and April 6.
  • The Bruins return from the trip 2-2-1, salvaging a rough start on the road. But the Bruins loss in overtime Thursday after they couldn't hold onto a two-goal lead and saw the Edmonton Oilers rally from behind and comeback to win in extra minutes.
  • For anyone who thought the Bruins have had it rough, the Sabres come to Boston on a 12-game losing streak. The last time they saw a W was before Thanksgiving on Nov. 23.
  • Head-to-head, the Bruins and Sabres penalty kill are similar: 77.9% for the Bruins and 77.4% for the Sabres — and so are their power plays, 30th and 31st in the league: 13.8% for the Sabers and 12.7% for the Bruins.
  • Brad Marchand enters tonight's game on an eight-game point streak with five goals and four assists. The road trip was good for David Pastrnak who picked up three goals and three assists.
  • Sky pointed it out in his recap last game, but there are still only two Bruins, Marchand and Pastrnak, who have double-digit goals this season. Given the Bruins have one of the lower GF/GP averages, we have many B's who have scored, just not that much yet. After them? Pavel Zacha (eight goals) and Charlie Coyle (seven goals) are the closest to hit the threshold.
  • The Sabres lost last night to the Toronto Maple Leafs, 6-3. Despite the loss, the Sabres got back Rasmus Dahlin from injury. He had missed the last seven games.
  • If I had to guess, I'd say we'll see Joonas Korpisalo in net tonight.
  • See ya tonight!

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