Buffalo plays Chicago for non-conference battle

Buffalo Sabres (23-33-10, sixth in the Atlantic) vs. Chicago Blackhawks (24-32-10, seventh in the Central)

Chicago; Monday, 8:30 p.m. EDT

LINE: Blackhawks -158, Sabres +133; over/under is 6

BOTTOM LINE: Buffalo heads to Chicago for a non-conference matchup.

The Blackhawks are 11-16-5 at home. Chicago has scored 40 power-play goals, converting on 20.5% of chances.

The Sabres are 11-17-5 on the road. Buffalo averages 8.6 penalty minutes per game, the 10th-most in the Eastern Conference. John Hayden leads the team serving 82 total minutes.

The matchup Monday is the first meeting this season between the two teams.

TOP PERFORMERS: Alex DeBrincat leads the Blackhawks with 37 goals and has 62 points. Dylan Strome has eight goals over the last 10 games for Chicago.

Tage Thompson leads the Sabres with 49 points, scoring 27 goals and collecting 22 assists. Jeff Skinner has four goals and one assist over the last 10 games for Buffalo.

LAST 10 GAMES: Blackhawks: 4-4-2, averaging 3.7 goals, 6.9 assists, three penalties and 6.6 penalty minutes while giving up 3.5 goals per game with an .898 save percentage.

Sabres: 5-3-2, averaging 2.4 goals, 3.6 assists, 3.3 penalties and 9.8 penalty minutes while giving up 2.9 goals per game with a .909 save percentage.

INJURIES: Blackhawks: None listed.

Sabres: None listed.

___

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by