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Kings seek bounce-back effort versus Sabres

Nov 19, 2010 - 4:23 PM (Sports Network) - The Los Angeles Kings will try to bounce back from their first home loss of the season when they begin a road trip by facing the Sabres tonight in Buffalo.

The Kings were 8-0-0 at the Staples Center before dropping Wednesday's test against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Los Angeles had already set a club record for its best home start to a season.

Rick Nash netted a pair of third-period goals as the Blue Jackets scored three times in the final stanza en route to the 5-3 victory.

"They made it look easy there on a couple of those goals tonight," said Los Angeles head coach Terry Murray.

Drew Doughty collected three assists for Los Angeles, while Justin Williams registered a goal and one assist to extend his point streak to a career-best 11 games. Jonathan Quick stopped 21 shots in defeat.

In addition to Williams' 11-game run, Jarret Stoll and Anze Kopitar also carry sizable point streaks into tonight's tilt. Stoll has three goals and seven assists during an eight-game stretch, while Kopitar has notched three goals and six helpers over his last five games.

Tonight's contest at HSBC Arena marks the first of four straight on the road for the Pacific Division-leading Kings, who are 4-4-0 away from LA this season.

The Sabres, meanwhile, are coming off a loss on Wednesday after dropping a road test in Washington. Michal Neuvirth made 31 stops, including 10 in a scoreless third period to help the Capitals hold on to the 4-2 win at Verizon Center.

Jordan Leopold and Derek Roy both tallied for the Sabres, while Ryan Miller surrendered three goals on 28 shots to take the loss. Roy extended his point streak to six games, while teammate Thomas Vanek added an assist to give him a point in five straight tilts.

Buffalo, which was 4-0-1 in five games prior to Wednesday's setback in D.C., suffered its first regulation loss since Nov. 5.

The Sabres may have defenseman and team captain Craig Rivet in the lineup tonight for the first time since Nov. 6. Rivet was sidelined with a bout of food poisoning at first, but he has since recovered from that illness only to be held out of the lineup as a healthy scratch over the last few games.

However, Buffalo forward Patrick Kaleta could miss his second straight game with an upper-body injury.

The Sabres have won four of the last six meetings against the Kings, but Buffalo lost a shootout decision last year in LA. The Kings have dropped three straight in Buffalo.