The set-up: The Vancouver Canucks host the Buffalo Sabres. Vancouver Canucks matched a season high for goals in a 6-2 victory over Los Angeles on Tuesday but at 19-23-6 (44 points), they sit 13 points behind Colorado for the final wild-card spot in the Western Conference. Meanwhile, the 13-26-9 Buffalo Sabres may be vying for their first three-game winning streak of the season but the team's 35 points are only two more than NHL-worst Arizona. The Sabres own victories over Calgary 2-1 in overtime on Monday and over Edmonton 5-0 on Tuesday, in winning the first two of their three-game road trip. However, the Canucks have won four straight meetings with the Sabres, including 4-2 at Buffalo back on Oct. 20.

Buffalo: Jack Eichel (team highs of 20 goals and 49 points) had a goal and three assists Tuesday, giving him five and nine during a seven-game point streak. Sam Reinhart had a goal and two assists Tuesday for his third multi-point game of the season. However, Evander Kane (16 goals, 36 points) has been kept off the scoresheet for the last four games and has only one goal and one assist in 10 January contests.is Buffalo's current two-game run a mirage? Buffalo has two straight wins -- on back-to-back nights over Edmonton and Calgary -- for only the second time this season. The last time they've won twice in a row was back in October!

Vancouver: Head coach Travis Green inserted Bo Horvat on a line with Loui Eriksson and Thomas Vanek, and the trio produced three goals and five assists in Tuesday's 6-2 victory. "I thought putting Horvat with Loui and Vanek would give both of them a little bit of life, a little bit of energy,'' Green told reporters. "Both those guys know they are going to play a lot when they play with Bo and they are going to get offensive chances." Green also shifted Calder Trophy candidate Brock Boeser to the top line with Daniel and Henrik Sedin and he responded with two goals, giving him an NHL rookie-most 24 on the season. Boeser also leads the club with 43 points with Vanek (14 goals) second at 35, followed by Henrik (30 assists, 32 points) and Daniel (11 goals, 30 points).

The pick: Both teams come into tonight's game at Rogers Arena on the heels of one-sided wins in their previous games. The Sabres blanked the Edmonton Oilers 5-0 on Tuesday night, and the Canucks thrashed the Los Angeles Kings 6-2, deciding the issues in the first six minutes. These are not the kind of results that one usually expects from the Sabres and Canucks (see season marks above). However, Vancouver is just four games under .500 on the season, while Buffalo is 13 games under. The Sabres are the NHL's lowest scoring team (2.29 GPG) and rank 28th (of 31 teams) in goals allowed (3.38 per). No way I want this team in a third straight road game after having won the first two. Make Vancouver an 8* play.