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The Buffalo Sabres stroll into Pittsburgh on Thursday night with perhaps a little more bounce in their step after a thrilling OT winner in Philly on Tuesday night. Pittsburgh is also feeling good, coming off a 3-1 win against the EC giants that are the Washington Capitals, and even managing to find some chemistry with Malkin and Kessel. The Sabres fore-check will look to pin the Pens dynamic forwards in their zone to neutralize them, and Chad Johnson should have a hell of a game ahead of him. However, a very interesting stat, as wjag (I believe) pointed out, is the Sabres actually have 4 more goals than the apparently dominate Pens offense, pointing to chemistry issues for the Penguins. HDDDB will look to exact some revenge on the team that canned him two years back in his first bout against the Penguins as a HC. Game Preview WEDNESDAY'S PRACTICE (NOTE: Reinhart & Ennis had a maintenance day, both are expected to start) Forwards: 44 Nicolas Deslauriers – 90 Ryan O'Reilly – 59 Tim Schaller (Ennis) 22 Johan Larsson – 15 Jack Eichel – Assistant Coach Dave Barr (Reinhart) 26 Matt Moulson – 28 Zemgus Girgensons – 12 Brian Gionta 82 Marcus Foligno – 17 David Legwand – 88 Jamie McGinn Defensemen: 4 Josh Gorges, 55 Rasmus Ristolainen, 29 Jake McCabe, 46 Cody Franson, 25 Carlo Colaiacovo, 3Mark Pysyk, 6 Mike Weber 31 Chad Johnson 35 Linus Ullmark

So, who here is ready for some Sunday Funday? Because that's exactly what you're going to get for today's matinee as your Buffalo Sabres will host the Pittsburgh Penguins in a showdown of what could have been vs what will be. The Sabres, led by Captain Insano, will look to continue their winning ways and improve on the 3-0-1 record they're currently posting over their last four. The Sabres last win, a 4-0 victory in Columbus on Friday night, saw the team come together through thick and thin; David Legwand recorded his 3rd (according to my friend) miracle goal of his career, Eichel had 2 assists, Reinhart scored another goal, McGinn proved he belongs/drove up his trade value, and Robin Lehner reminded everyone in the league not to ###### around in his ring. Apparently, hearing this second hand, Lehner's eyes lit up so fiercely as to defy Einstein's theory of relativity, and are now the first image appearing on alien feeds, properly replacing Hitler's speech as the furthest traveling imprint of mankind's history. According to numerous reports and the alien guy from the History Channel, aliens are now reconsidering their 2nd invasion, planned for July 4th, our Independence Day. The movie is also cancelled, and Lehner is still somewhere out there, trying to fight Will Smith and Rob Ray. The Penguins on the other hand, have seen a revival under their new head coach. A once listless Pens team, led by the Hamburgler and Celine Dion, believe their hearts can indeed go on as they look to further entrench themselves in the playoff hunt. The Pens are 6-3-1 in their last 10, and are coming off a 4-2 loss vs Tampa Bay on Saturday night. The first meeting between these teams this season saw the Penguins win 4-3 in Pittsburgh on the back of backup goalie Jeff Zatkoff's 50 saves. DD will look to add a little more funk to the game tonight, and drive this soul train on through to the FN'C to keep it stayin' alive. Lehner will get the start, and look for Zatkoff to go again as the Pens are unsure of Fleury traveling with the team. Franson is still out with a neck injury, but Bogosian is good to go. Defensive pairings will probably be different. Game Preview STATS: All Stats Buffalo @ Pittsburgh (4-3 loss) All Team Rankings Team Comparison Chart Saturday Practice report Forwards: 9 Evander Kane – 23 Sam Reinhart - 56 Justin Bailey 28 Zemgus Girgensons – 15 Jack Eichel – 88 Jamie McGinn 82 Marcus Foligno – 22 Johan Larsson – 12 Brian Gionta 44 Nicolas Deslauriers – 17 David Legwand – 26 Matt Moulson Defensemen: 4 Josh Gorges, 55 Rasmus Ristolainen, 29 Jake McCabe, 47 Zach Bogosian, 3 Mark Pysyk, 6 Mike Weber 46 Cody Franson, 25 Carlo Colaiacovo Goalies: 40 Robin Lehner 31 Chad Johnson