*8* PUCK-LINE play on San Jose Sharks.

The Buffalo Sabres will make the second stop of a three-game California road-trip Friday night. They lost 1-0 at Anaheim Wednesday and will play the Kings tomorrow, and this looks like a bad time to face the San Jose Sharks.

Here are my keys to the game:

1. Ryan O'Reilly's Absence - The Sabres' top-scorer will be out of action for three-to-four weeks with a lower-body injury. He's missed the last two games and the Sabres have mustered only two goals in three games since he went missing.

2. Home Cookin' - The Sharks have played nine of their 11 games since the All-Star break on the road. They defeated the Coyotes 4-1 in their last home game and will be motivated to put up another show in front of the home-fans tonight.

3. X-Factor - The Sharks' Joe Thornton has 15 points in his last 10 games.

Selection: This is a play on the San Jose Sharks PL (8*)