The Buffalo Sabres' feel-good story that was built primarily on a franchise high-tying 10-game win streak has hit a sour chapter with four consecutive one-goal losses (0-2-2). Riding a nine-game point streak at KeyBank Center (7-0-2), the Sabres aim to get back on track on Saturday afternoon when they play the second contest of their four-game homestand against the Philadelphia Flyers.

The Vegas Golden Knights began their run to the Stanley Cup Finals last season by sweeping Los Angeles in the first round of the playoffs -- and it could be argued that the Kings have never recovered. The Golden Knights are rolling following a slow start to the season and will go for their eighth win in nine games when they visit the Kings on Saturday afternoon.

John Tavares and the Toronto Maple Leafs mirrored each other by answering a sluggish start at home with sterling performances on the road. After changing his fortunes by extending his home point streak to eight games (six goals, four assists), Tavares and the Maple Leafs take their show on the road Saturday when they open a five-game trek against the Original Six-rival Boston Bruins.

Persistent rumors have spurred talk about Phil Kessel's days being numbered in the Steel City, but that hasn't stopped the 31-year-old from producing this season. Fresh off a four-point performance (two goals, two assists) that tied him with Evgeni Malkin for the team lead in scoring, Kessel looks to continue his hot streak on Saturday as the Pittsburgh Penguins open a three-game road trip versus the Ottawa Senators.

Gustav Nyquist has been surging offensively while his Detroit Red Wings have been earning points. Nyquist and the Red Wings hope to continue the trends when they host the slumping New York Islanders on Saturday.

The two highest-scoring teams in the league managed one goal in their last meeting and round two could be much different when the Colorado Avalanche visit the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday night. The Lightning (3.83 goals per game) earned a 1-0 victory in an up-and-down battle at Colorado (3.69) on Oct. 24 for their fourth straight win in the series and take a five-game winning streak overall into the showdown.

The Florida Panthers look to end a monster eight-game homestand on a positive note and avoid a sweep in the season series when they host the struggling New York Rangers on Saturday night. The Panthers are 3-2-2 during their season-high stay in Sunrise, Fla., after giving up three unanswered goals in the third period of a 5-2 setback against Colorado on Thursday.

The Washington Capitals make their first visit to Columbus since wrapping up a first-round playoff series with a six-game victory over the Blue Jackets last season. Columbus won the first matchup of the season with a 2-1 victory at Washington a month ago but emotions still should be high at Nationwide Arena when the top two teams in the Metropolitan Division clash Saturday night.

The Arizona Coyotes fell just short of matching their longest winning streak of the season last time out but hope to begin another run when they host the San Jose Sharks on Saturday. Arizona, which posted five straight victories from Oct. 23-Nov. 2, dropped a 4-2 decision to Washington on Thursday to end its string of four consecutive triumphs.

The Calgary Flames continue to be among the biggest surprises in the NHL and will be tested when they put their four-game winning streak on the line against the visiting Nashville Predators on Saturday in a battle of first-place teams. The Flames, who lead the Pacific Division, are coming off a 2-0 victory over Minnesota on Thursday and are 8-1-1 in its last 10 games while goaltender Mike Smith has shrugged off an early season slump with five straight victories.