BUF 3–2 NYI Final / SO · W
Sabres/Schedule/Recap Sat, Dec 20, 2025 · 2025-26 regular season
Buffalo Sabres
BUF · 16-14-4
3–2
Final / SOW
New York Islanders
NYI · 19-13-4
1ST2ND3RDOTSOT BUF 11211007031332 NYI 0711517050234 goals · shots on goal
First meeting this season — the Sabres lead the season series 1–0
BUF 16-14-4 · NYI 19-13-4 · First meeting this season — the Sabres lead the season series 1–0

Sabres beat the Islanders

The Sabres earned it: 4.1 expected goals to 3.4, and they won it in a shootout. David Rittich stopped 2.1 more goals than an average goalie would have.

Who had the better chances

The Sabres created the better chances: 4.1 expected goals to 3.4, on 32 and 34 shots on goal.

BUF 4.1 xG · 32 shots NYI 3.4 xG · 34 shots
0
1
2
3
4
1st 1.0 · 0.7
2nd 1.3 · 1.3
3rd · the swing 1.4 · 0.4
OT 0.4 · 0.9
Tap a numbered goal to see how it happened.
Deserve to winReplay this game 100 times with average goalies and the Sabres win 61.
BUF 61%NYI 39%

Goals and penalties

4 goals · 7 penalties
← Sabres shoot this way Islanders shoot this way →
On net Missed Bigger = better chance 1Goal, numbered to the list
1st period
PEN
01:27 Mathew Barzal· Tripping
Dahlin scored on this power play
2 min
Minor
1
01:47 Rasmus Dahlin PP
Alex Lyon · Power play (Barzal, tripping) · backhand shot, a good chance (13%)
1–0
PEN
02:43 Beck Malenstyn· Hooking
Killed
2 min
Minor
PEN
05:01 Adam Pelech· Delaying game puck over glass
Killed
2 min
Minor
2nd period
2
08:55 Tage Thompson
Josh Doan, Peyton Krebs · backhand shot, a good chance (20%)
2–0
3
19:37 Mathew Barzal
Anders Lee, Simon Holmstrom · snap shot on a rebound, a good chance (24%)
2–1
3rd period
PEN
04:24 Jean-Gabriel Pageau· Tripping
Killed
2 min
Minor
PEN
04:43 Alex Tuch· Tripping
Killed
2 min
Minor
PEN
09:41 Marshall Warren· Delaying game puck over glass
Killed
2 min
Minor
PEN
18:33 Michael Kesselring· Slashing
Killed
2 min
Minor
4
19:31 Emil Heineman EXTRA ATTACKER
Mathew Barzal, Matthew Schaefer · wrist shot, a good chance (13%)
2–2
Shootout
1 Tage Thompson Save
2 Mathew Barzal Goal
3 Jack Quinn Goal
4 Simon Holmstrom Miss
5 Alex Tuch Miss
6 Emil Heineman Miss
7 Noah Ostlund Miss
8 Jonathan Drouin Save
9 Josh Norris Goal
10 Calum Ritchie Save
Goaltending
+1.4
vs expected
32/34 saves · 2 GA · 3.4 xGA Stopped 1.4 more goals than an average goalie would have.
+2.1
vs expected
30/32 saves · 2 GA · 4.1 xGA Stopped 2.1 more goals than an average goalie would have.
Team BUFNYI
Shots on goal
32
34
Expected goals
4.1
3.4
Hits
18
25
Blocks
9
13
Faceoffs
45%
55%
Power play
1/4
0/3
Penalty minutes
6
8
The Sabres went 1-for-4 on the power play and killed all 3 Islanders power plays.