Lafferty will fill in for Beck Malenstyn (illness) after serving as a healthy scratch for Saturday's game in Vegas. Lafferty has just one goal and two assists in 29 games this season.

Lafferty will fill in for Beck Malenstyn (illness) after serving as a healthy scratch for Saturday's game in Vegas. Lafferty has just one goal and two assists in 29 games this season.
Malenstyn is battling an illness and will miss his first game of the season when the Sabres play the Washington Capitals on Monday. The 26-year-old Malenstyn is averaging 10:30 time-on-ice and has eight points (4G / 4A) in 40 games this season.
After a three-game winning streak, the Sabres have returned to the loss column, being outscored 13-8 during a three-game losing skid (0-2-1). Luukkonen struggled in his previous outing, allowing six goals on 29 shots (.793 SV%) in a 6-5 overtime loss to the Colorado Avalanche. He has a 3.07 GAA and .894 SV% in 28 games this season (11-12-4). The Sabres enter Monday's contest as +126 home underdogs against a Washington Capitals club with points in three straights (2-0-1).
Malenstyn is battling an illness and could miss his first game of the season when the Sabres play the Washington Capitals on Monday. The 26-year-old Malenstyn is averaging 10:30 time-on-ice and has eight points (4G / 4A) in 40 games this season.
After a three-game winning streak, the Sabres have returned to the loss column, being outscored 13-8 during a three-game losing skid (0-2-1). Luukkonen struggled in his previous outing, allowing six goals on 29 shots (.793 SV%) in a 6-5 overtime loss to the Colorado Avalanche. He has a 3.07 GAA and .894 SV% in 28 games this season (11-12-4). The Sabres enter Monday's contest as +126 home underdogs against a Washington Capitals club with points in three straights (2-0-1).
MacArthur is an undrafted 23-year-old forward that has yet to play an NHL game. He has spent most of the past three seasons in the ECHL, including scoring seven points (3G / 4A) in 28 games with the Wheeling Nailers this season.
Joshua is an undrafted 25-year-old out of Michigan State University. He has spent the past three seasons in the AHL, including scoring one point (0G / 1A) in four games with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins this season.
Brannstrom is a surprise omission from Thursday night's lineup after quarterbacking Vancouver's top power-play unit in their last game. Guillaume Brisebois will draw into the lineup in his place.
Luukkonen will make his 28th start of the season when the Sabres travel to Denver to take on the Avalanche on Thursday. Luukkonen turned in a strong performance in a losing effort his last time out, stopping 29 of the 32 shots he faced in a 4-2 loss in Dallas on Tuesday. The 25-year-old netminder brings an 11-12-3 record and an .898 SV% into Thursday night's game. The Sabres will need him to be at his best tonight, as they enter action at +175 on the money line.
After losing 13 straight (0-10-3), the Sabres have won three straight, outscoring their competition 17-5. Luukkonen has been stellar during that stretch, allowing five combined goals and posting a .939 SV% in three games (3-0-0). The 25-year-old netminder will be between the pipes on Tuesday against the Dallas Stars, a team he saved 28 of 30 shots against (.933 SV%) in a 4-2 win on October 22nd.
After losing 13 straight (0-10-3), the Sabres have won three straight, outscoring their competition 17-5. Luukkonen has been stellar during that stretch, allowing five combined goals and posting a .939 SV% in three games (3-0-0). The 25-year-old netminder will likely be between the pipes on Tuesday against the Dallas Stars, a team he saved 28 of 30 shots against (.933 SV%) in a 4-2 win on October 22nd.
The Sabres snapped a league-worst 13-game losing skid in their previous outing when Luukkonen saved 27 of 28 shots (.964 SV%) in a 7-1 win over the New York Islanders. It was only the second time in nine games that Luukkonen has allowed fewer than three goals in a game (1-6-2). He has a 3.03 GAA and .895 SV% in 24 appearances this season (9-11-23). The Sabres enter Friday's contest as -160 home favorites against a Chicago Blackhawks club amid a two-game losing skid.
The Sabres snapped a league-worst 13-game losing skid in their previous outing when Luukkonen saved 27 of 28 shots (.964 SV%) in a 7-1 win over the New York Islanders. It was only the second time in nine games that Luukkonen has allowed fewer than three goals in a game (1-6-2). He has a 3.03 GAA and .895 SV% in 24 appearances this season (9-11-23). The Sabres enter Friday's contest as -160 home favorites against a Chicago Blackhawks club amid a two-game losing skid.