Blackhawks Seek Redemption Against Sabres; Bruins’ Pastrnak Eyes Milestone

PITTSBURGH, Pa. — The Chicago Blackhawks are looking to bounce back from a disappointing loss as they face the Buffalo Sabres on Friday night. The game is set to start at 7 p.m. ET at KeyBank Center.

Chicago (10-6-4) fell to the Seattle Kraken 3-2 on Thursday, after leading 2-0 at one point. The game turned when center Connor Bedard was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct, leading to the game-winning power-play goal by Seattle in the final minutes. Bedard acknowledged his mistake after the game, admitting he needed to handle frustrations better. This loss ended a 5-0-1 streak for the Blackhawks, who are eager to return to winning form.

Meanwhile, the Sabres (7-9-4) have struggled recently, managing only two wins in their past seven games. They aim to capitalize on the Blackhawks’ misfortune while looking to improve their own performance.

Additionally, the Boston Bruins’ star forward David Pastrnak is on the verge of reaching a significant milestone. He is just four points away from 100 points in a calendar year. If he achieves this on Friday against the Los Angeles Kings, Pastrnak will become the fifth player in franchise history to accomplish this feat at least three times.

The Bruins (12-10-0) will battle the Kings at Crypto.com Arena at 10:30 p.m. ET, hoping to end a two-game skid. Pastrnak currently leads the NHL with 96 points this season, having tallied 41 goals and 55 assists.

Other notable matchups include the Minnesota Wild visiting the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Carolina Hurricanes taking on the Winnipeg Jets. The Wild, riding a three-game winning streak, are set to challenge the Penguins at PPG Paints Arena at 7 p.m. ET, while the Hurricanes look for victory against the Jets, with puck drop also at 8 p.m. ET.