Eurolanche

Well-rested Sabres host Avalanche

Season series: The Colorado Avalanche won their two games against the Buffalo Sabres last season by a combined score of 11-3. Matt Duchene had a goal and two assists, Gabriel Landeskog had three goals and an assist, and Ryan O'Reilly had a goal and three assists to lead Colorado.

Avalanche team scope (10-13-8): Colorado has lost six of its past seven games (1-3-3), and lost 1-0 in overtime to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday in the opener of a three-game road trip. Rookie goalie Calvin Pickard made 47 saves before Blake Comeau scored the only goal of the game. "He was our star player, without a doubt," coach Patrick Roy said after the game, according to Colorado's website. "A point is a point. There's a lot of positives in our game, I would say. Tonight, obviously we're a little disappointed because we were one shot away to win the hockey game despite the fact that we might not have played our best game."

Sabres team scope (13-17-2): A 5-1 road loss to the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday snapped a season-long four-game winning streak for the Sabres, who were glad for a three-day break after playing 11 games in 21 days. Buffalo has won 10 of its past 14 games after starting the season 3-13-2. The Sabres were down a forward at practice Friday but are expected to recall one before the game. It could be Mikhail Grigorenko, who made his season debut against Winnipeg but was returned to the Rochester Americans of the American Hockey League after the game. Defenseman Mike Weber returned to practice on Friday for the first time since undergoing minor knee surgery on Dec. 12. "He's a quick healer," Ted Nolan said. "He's feeling good. He even had aspirations of playing this Saturday, but I think he's more enthusiastic than ready." Defenseman Josh Gorges, who missed two games with a finger injury, practiced Friday and Nolan said he's likely to play against the Avalanche.

-by Evan Sporer for nhl.com-