Buffalo (31-24-6) at Carolina (31-26-5), 7:00 p.m. EST
RALEIGH, North Carolina (Ticker) -- The depleted Buffalo Sabres
could use an important victory.
Without injured All-Star Thomas Vanek and goaltender Ryan
Miller, the Sabres have that chance when they visit the Carolina
Hurricanes on Thursday in a battle of teams on the bubble in the
Eastern Conference.
Buffalo has been without Vanek - the team's leading scorer - for
seven games and will not get him back from the fractured jaw for
at least another two weeks. The Sabres are 3-4-0 without the
Austrian, who has recorded 32 goals and 20 assists.
Miller suffered an ankle injury in Saturday's 4-2 win over the
New York Rangers and is likely to miss at least another eight
games, according to the Buffalo News.
Buffalo suffered a 3-2 overtime loss to the Anaheim Ducks on
Tuesday, during which backup netminder Patrick Lalime made 18
saves. He is still looking for his first win since December 13.
Carolina had its three-game winning streak halted with Tuesday's
4-2 setback against the Ottawa Senators.
The Hurricanes have scored a total of four goals in their last
four losses, dating to February 12.