Eurolanche

Avalanche host Sabres

Season series: Alex Tanguay had three points (two goals, one assist) in a 5-1 Colorado Avalanche victory at the Buffalo Sabres on Dec. 20.  Jarome Iginla had three assists. Johan Larsson scored for the Sabres.

Sabres (20-46-8) team scope: Forward Tyler Ennis, who had a goal and an assist Thursday in a 4-3 overtime loss to the Arizona Coyotes, sustained an upper-body injury and will not play. Ennis leads the Sabres with 19 goals. "He is going to make the trip," coach Ted Nolan told the Sabres website. "There is a possibility [to return] in Arizona [on Monday] but we will make double sure that he is OK before we do that." The Sabres have lost four straight games and 11 of 12. Goalie Anders Lindback (3-13-2) likely will start. Backup Chad Johnson (lower body) skated and may not play again this regular season.

Avalanche (34-28-12) team scope: Colorado, which returns home to play Buffalo and the Edmonton Oilers on Monday after a 2-2-1 road trip, need all the points they can get and help from other teams in order to qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs. "Let's not kid ourselves," coach Patrick Roy told the Avalanche website Friday. "Every time we look at the standings or the results, [the Minnesota Wild] and [Winnipeg Jets] are winning hockey games. But let's keep playing good hockey and we will see where we are when it's all over. ... We've got two home games coming up and we just need to be sharp and find a way to win those games." The Avalanche trail the Jets for the second wild card from the Western Conference by 10 points with a game in hand. Forward Gabriel Landeskog has three goals and seven points in five games.

-- by David Satriano for NHL.com --

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