As it tends to be the case through the first 24 games of the season, the Bruins aren’t exactly making things easy. But having taken points in their last three games, they ride a little momentum heading into Saturday’s matinee against the Sabres in Buffalo.

Unlike the first meeting of the season, a 4-0 win on the eve before the Presidential Election, the Sabres will have former Boston University standout and Chelmsford native Jack Eichel in the fold. Since returning from an ankle injury, Eichel has given the Sabres a much-needed boost offensively having tallied three goals and an assist in his first two games of 2016-17.

Without Zdeno Chara for a sixth straight game (lower body), the Bruins hope to hold off a Sabres squad that sits four points in back of them in the standings. The B’s enter today’s game sitting in third place in the Atlantic Division.

Gametime: 1:00 p.m.
TV/Radio: NESN/98.5 The Sports Hub
Records: Bruins 13-10-1 (27 points), Sabres 9-9-5 (23 points)
Location: KeyBank Center

Bruins projected lines

Brad Marchand-Patrice Bergeron-David Pastrnak
Tim Schaller-David Krejci-David Backes
Matt Beleskey-Riley Nash-Austin Czarnik
Ryan Spooner-Dominic Moore-Anton Blidh

Torey Krug-Adam McQuaid
Kevan Miller-Brandon Carlo
Joe Morrow-Colin Miller

Tuukka Rask
Anton Khudobin

Sabres projected lines

Kyle Okposo-Ryan O’Reilly-Zegmus Girgensons
Derek Grant-Jack Eichel-Sam Reinhart
Marcus Foligno-Johan Larsson-Brian Gionta
Matt Moulson-Evander Kane-Will Carrier

Jake McCabe-Rasmus Ristolainen
Josh Gorges-Cody Franson
Taylor Fedun-Justin Falk

Robin Lehner
Anders Nilsson

Today’s storylines

– One Bruin that will likely make his National Hockey League debut this afternoon as Anton Blidh (last name pronounced as ‘Bleed’). The native of Gothenburg, Sweeden, was called up yesterday from Providence where he tallied five goals and four assists in 19 games at the AHL level. His high energy and solid two-way game is something the Bruins can definitely use especially after looking flat through the first two periods of their 2-1 win over the Hurricanes on Thursday night at TD Garden. Assuming he’s in, Blidh will probably get fourth line duty this afternoon.

Anton Blidh, on the trip to Buffalo. Horse’s mouth pronunciation guide. pic.twitter.com/TkUx4KGS7L

— Jack Edwards (@RealJackEdwards) December 2, 2016

– How the rest of the Bruins lineup looks aside from their D pairings and the Marchand-Bergeron-Pastrnak line is anyone’s guess. With the Bruins trailing 1-0, Ryan Spooner played with David Krejci and David Backes for the majority of the third period. If Claude Julien decides to reunite the Spooner-Krejci-Backes trio, the Bruins will then have a different looking fourth line and perhaps a tinker to the third line as well. Then it’s a decision of who will be eating popcorn in the press box this afternoon and it will likely come down to Tim Schaller or Jimmy Hayes.