The Buffalo Sabres are set to take on the Vancouver Canucks at KeyBank Center on Saturday as part of their ongoing six-game homestand. This will be the first meeting between the two teams this season, and the Sabres are looking to extend their 33-23-8 home record against the Canucks.

The Sabres will be missing their leading goal scorer, Jeff Skinner, as he recovers from an upper-body injury. Additionally, forward Tage Thompson's availability for the game is uncertain due to an injury sustained during Thursday's game against the Ottawa Senators.

Head coach Don Granato remains hopeful for Thompson's participation, as he has previously shown resilience and determination to play through injuries. Granato acknowledged Thompson's competitive spirit and recalled instances where he had surprised everyone by recovering quickly from injuries.

In terms of goaltending, the Sabres have been utilizing a rotation between Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Devon Levi. Luukkonen has been in exceptional form, with a 3-0-1 record in his last four starts. With his recent strong performance and consistency, it remains to be seen who will be named the starting goaltender for the game against the Canucks.

The Sabres enter this matchup on a positive note, having won three of their last four games. They secured victories over Montreal and Pittsburgh during their road trip, and split their first two games of the current homestand, defeating Ottawa in their last outing.

Forward Jordan Greenway received praise from coach Granato after the victory over the Senators. Greenway was awarded the player of the game sword by his teammates for his standout performance. He played a significant role in the team's successful penalty kill, spending 5:10 shorthanded and leading the Sabres forwards with 19:38 of ice time. Greenway's leadership and experience have been valuable assets to the team's penalty-killing unit.

The Vancouver Canucks, who currently lead the Pacific Division standings with 59 points, will pose a tough challenge for the Sabres. They are on a four-game winning streak and have won seven of their last ten games. J.T. Miller has been instrumental for the Canucks, leading the team with 58 points in 42 games and currently boasting a four-game point streak. Defenseman Quinn Hughes is also driving the Canucks' success and leads all NHL defensemen in points with 51.

As the puck drops on Saturday, both teams will look to secure a victory and bolster their playoff ambitions. The Sabres aim to defend their home record against the Canucks and continue their positive momentum, while the Canucks strive to extend their winning streak and solidify their position atop the Pacific Division standings.