Sabres get back to their game as the prepare for Vegas

Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR) - Coming into Friday's game with the Columbus Blue Jackets, Josh Norris had two goals all season. He had gone six games without a goal and had numerous meetings with Lindy Ruff because he wasn't really even getting scoring chances. In the 5-2 win over the Blue Jackets on Friday, Norris scored two nice goals that may give him some confidence moving forward.

With the Vegas Golden Knights coming to town on Sunday afternoon, Buffalo needed to straighten out its home woes. The Sabres had lost 4-of-5 at home after going 4-0-3 in their last seven road games.

On Saturday, Lindy Ruff said the team gave up no high danger chances to Columbus while they gave up seven or eight to the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday.

Connor Timmins got hurt in the final preseason game on Sept. 26. Friday was his first game back and he played 15:18 including 3:16 on the penalty kill. Timmins said he felt pretty comfortable and his teammates made it easier on him.

The only way you can get into game shape is actually playing games. You can't do it by just practicing. Timmins understands it may take a bit,

"The pace feels a little quicker than you're used to, but adrenaline will kind of carry you through."

Buffalo has killed eight of their last 10 penalties which is an improvement for them. Timmins is one of the team's best penalty killers and shot blocker which the team has missed when down a man. He has seen progress recently with the kill,

"We had a lot of new forwards jumping into a penalty killing roll, but I think the guys have done a good job as of late and our process has been good lately."

The Sabres come into Sunday 8-5-3 and are 4-1-0 in their last five games. Ruff has gotten good games out of Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Colten Ellis lately and they've started to alternate. That puts Ellis in net on Sunday. He's 2-1-0 in his last three starts shutting out the San Jose Sharks on 23 shots and losing to the Ottawa Senators 2-1 stopping 28-of-30 shots. He won the other game, 7-6 over the Anaheim Ducks. In those three games Ellis has a goals against of 2.69 and a save percentage of .909. Overall he's 3-2-0 with a 2.92 goals against and .891 save percentage.

Tage Thompson leads the Sabres with 10 goals and nine assists for 19 points in 16 games. Jack Quinn has nine goals scoring seven in his last nine games.

Vegas edged the Detroit Red Wings 2-1 on Thursday. They've struggled a little bit lately winning three of eight games. Vegas overall is 11-5-2 which is good for second place in the Pacific Division. The Sabres are 3-0-0 against the Pacific Division this season with all three wins coming on the road.

Jack Eichel leads Vegas in scoring with seven goals and 15 assists for 22 points in 17 games. In goal Carter Hart is 4-3-2 with a 2.65 goals against and .893 save percentage. Adin Hill is 6-2-0 with a 2.73 goals against and .895 save percentage.

Join Brian Koziol and me for the pregame on Sunday at 2:30 when you hear from Ruff, Timmins and Noah Ostlund.