The Buffalo Sabres will try to translate "compete and battle" into more success on home ice when they host the Arizona Coyotes on Monday.
The Sabres are only 5-7-1 in home games this season, ranking near the bottom of the league in home points. Three of those home defeats have come within a 1-4-1 overall stretch for Buffalo in its past six games, including Saturday's 3-2 shootout loss to the Montreal Canadiens.
Montreal scored twice within a 14-second span in the second period, forcing the Sabres to score twice in the third frame just to send the game beyond regulation. Though Buffalo had a season-high 48 shots, Canadiens goalie Cayden Primeau was often outstanding during a 46-save performance.
Buffalo coach Don Granato felt his team's "process was much, much better and the process was consistent with compete and battle through the course of the game, generating chances through that. But, the result is frustrating."
The Coyotes are also looking for more consistency. Arizona has followed up a five-game winning streak with regulation losses in its past two games.
Saturday's 5-3 loss to the Boston Bruins saw the Coyotes fall behind 3-0, yet the team twice fought back to make it a one-goal deficit against one of the NHL's top teams.
"I thought we played a pretty solid game overall, just when we had those mental collapses they took advantage of it," forward Michael Carcone said. "(It's a) pretty tough building to play in, especially when you go down."
Carcone scored Arizona's second goal Saturday, giving him seven goals over his past eight games. Carcone has 16 points (13 goals, three assists) in 25 games this season, breaking out after collecting nine points in his previous 30 career NHL games.
The Bruins were 1-for-3 on the power play Saturday, finding some success against an in-form Arizona penalty-kill unit. The Coyotes have killed 28 of 31 penalties over their past 11 games.
The Sabres had also been posting solid penalty-kill numbers before a recent slump, as opponents are 7-for-18 with the extra attacker over Buffalo's past eight games. Combined with the Sabres' season-long issues on the power play, Arizona might have the advantage on special teams Monday.
Since the Coyotes also play Tuesday against the Pittsburgh Penguins, goaltenders Connor Ingram and Karel Vejmelka will likely split the back-to-back starts. Ingram has started Arizona's past seven games, as the struggling Vejmelka is 0-5-2 with an .864 save percentage in his past eight appearances.
Ukko-Pekka Lukkonen has missed Buffalo's past three games due to an illness, and the goalie might have recovered enough to return Monday. If not, the Sabres will deploy Eric Comrie, or Devon Levi could make his third consecutive start.
Levi might have earned another look regardless of Lukkonen's health, given how well Levi has played since his recall from the AHL. Brought up to the Sabres' roster with Lukkonen sidelined, Levi has a .952 save percentage (60 saves in 63 shots) over his past two games.
Buffalo star forward Tage Thompson has a goal and two assists in three games since returning from a nine-game injury absence.
After Monday's game, the Sabres and Coyotes will rematch in quick fashion Saturday in Tempe, Ariz.
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