BUF 1–3 PIT Final · L
Sabres/Schedule/Recap Sat, Sep 26, 2026 · 2026-27 preseason
Buffalo Sabres
BUF · 1-2-1
1–3
FinalL
Pittsburgh Penguins
PIT · 2-2-0
1ST2ND3RDT BUF 0110914124 PIT 290718324 goals · shots on goal
Meeting 2 this season — the Sabres trail the season series 0–2
BUF 1-2-1 · PIT 2-2-0 · Meeting 2 this season — the Sabres trail the season series 0–2

Sabres fell to the Penguins

Chances were even (2.0 to 2.1 expected goals); the Sabres lost 1–3. Arturs Silovs stopped 2.0 more goals than an average goalie would have.

Video opens on NHL.com.
★ NHL first starRyan McLeod BUF · C · #71 1 G · 0 A · 1 P

Who had the better chances

Chances were close: 2.0 expected goals to 2.1, on 24 and 24 shots on goal.

BUF 2.0 xG · 24 shots PIT 2.1 xG · 24 shots
0
1
2
1st 1.0 · 0.7
2nd 0.8 · 0.7
3rd 0.3 · 0.7
Tap a numbered goal to see how it happened.
Deserve to winReplay this game 100 times with average goalies and the Sabres win 48.
BUF 48%PIT 52%

Goals and penalties

4 goals · 4 penalties
← Sabres shoot this way Penguins shoot this way →
On net Missed Bigger = better chance 1Goal, numbered to the list
1st period
PEN
06:25 Egor Chinakhov· Hooking
Killed
2 min
Minor
1
Tommy Novak, Declan Carlile · wrist shot, a good chance (11%)
2
10:56 Ville Koivunen GWG
Hendrix Lapierre, Bryan Rust · backhand shot, a good chance (11%)
PEN
11:26 Josh Norris· Interference
Killed
2 min
Minor
2nd period
PEN
00:26 Rickard Rakell· Hooking
Killed
2 min
Minor
3rd period
PEN
09:39 Evgeni Malkin· Hooking
McLeod scored on this power play
2 min
Minor
3
11:30 Ryan McLeod PP
Owen Power, Noah Ostlund · Power play (Malkin, hooking) · wrist shot, a low-percentage shot (5%) that found a way in
4
18:55 Nick Robertson EN
Rickard Rakell, Trevor van Riemsdyk · backhand shot, into an empty net

NHL three stars

the league's pick
Goaltending
−0.4
vs expected
15/17 saves · 2 GA · 1.6 xGA Gave up about what the shots he faced would predict.
+0.5
vs expected
6/6 saves · 0 GA · 0.5 xGA Gave up about what the shots he faced would predict.
Team BUFPIT
Shots on goal
24
24
Expected goals
2.0
2.1
Hits
24
18
Blocks
18
11
Faceoffs
66%
34%
Power play
1/3
0/1
Penalty minutes
2
6
The Sabres went 1-for-3 on the power play and killed all 1 Penguins power play.

Box score

xG and GSAx are Inside the Game numbers
ForwardsGAP+/−PIMSHitsBlkTOIShiftsFO%PPGGVTKxG
72T. ThompsonT. ThompsonC000−1010019:232173%0210.1
6Z. BensonZ. BensonLW000−2005017:4321—0200.0
91J. DoanJ. DoanRW0000011017:0020—0100.0
22J. QuinnJ. QuinnRW000−2031016:5720—0000.0
71Ryan McLeodR. McLeodC101−1020116:182163%1200.1
86Noah OstlundN. OstlundC011−1001016:102150%0000.0
19P. KrebsP. KrebsC0000032015:571950%0010.3
9Josh NorrisJ. NorrisC0000210014:3820100%0000.2
94K. HeleniusK. HeleniusC0000022114:3420—0100.3
10S. CarrickS. CarrickC000−1011013:072056%0000.0
29B. MalenstynB. MalenstynLW000−1002012:0819—0000.0
48T. KozakT. KozakC000−1001110:3917—0100.0
DefenseGAP+/−PIMSHitsBlkTOIShiftsFO%PPGGVTKxG
26R. DahlinR. DahlinD000−1010124:4426—0100.4
25Owen PowerO. PowerD011−1011022:1125—0100.1
46L. CrevierL. CrevierD0000044116:5422—0300.5
24M. GrzelcykM. GrzelcykD000−2012216:4821—0100.0
73Z. MetsaZ. MetsaD0000000116:4820—0200.0
21C. TimminsC. TimminsD000−2031116:3721—0100.0
GoaliesSavesSAGASv%EVPPSHTOIGSGSAx
1Ukko-Pekka LuukkonenU. LuukkonenG15172.88214/161/10/043:47−0.4
92Colten EllisC. EllisG6601.0006/60/00/015:37+0.5
EV / PP / SH = saves on shots at even strength, on the opponent's power play, and shorthanded. GS = started. A dash means the stat isn't on file for that player or game. Showing the short set. Tap "All columns" to scroll through every stat inside this card.