Schedule / Matchup Preview

Buffalo Sabres vs Dallas Stars · Matchup Preview Based on 26-27 form — rosters current

Season 26-27
Matchup Preview vs Stars · THU · OCT 8 · 6:00 PM CT ← Back to schedule
Upcoming
THU · OCT 8 · 6:00 PM CT
KeyBank Center
MSG-B · Prime Video
Buffalo Sabres
Sabres
1–1–0
VS
Dallas Stars
Stars
0–2–0
Upcoming
THU · OCT 8 · 6:00 PM CT
MSG-B · Prime Video
Buffalo Sabres
Home · Sabres
1–1–0
2 PTS
VS
Puck Drop In
The read
Tage Thompson has solved Casey DeSmith before, 6 goals on 30 shots.
KeyBank Center
Dallas Stars
Away · Stars
0–2–0
0 PTS
Sabres
GOALIES
Stars
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
Expected
.784 SV% · 4.03 GAA · 1W
.847 SV% L5 · Cooling
VS
Casey DeSmith
Casey DeSmith
Expected
.923 SV% · 2.05 GAA · 0W
.912 SV% L5 · Steady
Sabres
PROJECTED TOP LINES
Stars
L1
Josh Norris · Tage Thompson · Josh Doan
L1
Justin Hryckowian · Wyatt Johnston · Mikko Rantanen
L2
Zach Benson · Noah Ostlund · Jack Quinn
L2
Jason Robertson · Roope Hintz · Tyler Seguin
L3
Peyton Krebs · Ryan McLeod · Konsta Helenius
L3
Sam Steel · Arttu Hyry · Jamie Benn
L4
Jiri Kulich · Sam Carrick · Beck Malenstyn
L4
Oskar Back · Radek Faksa · Colin Blackwell
D1
Rasmus Dahlin · Mattias Samuelsson
D1
Thomas Harley · Miro Heiskanen
D2
Owen Power · Olen Zellweger
D2
Esa Lindell · Nils Lundkvist
D3
Louis Crevier · Zach Metsa
D3
Lian Bichsel · Tyler Myers
PP1
Jack Quinn · Zach Benson · Josh Doan · Tage Thompson · Rasmus Dahlin
PP1
Wyatt Johnston · Roope Hintz · Mikko Rantanen · Miro Heiskanen · Jason Robertson
PP2
Konsta Helenius · Ryan McLeod · Noah Ostlund · Owen Power · Josh Norris
PP2
Jamie Benn · Justin Hryckowian · Tyler Seguin · Esa Lindell · Thomas Harley
PK1
Ryan McLeod · Beck Malenstyn · Owen Power · Mattias Samuelsson
PK1
Radek Faksa · Oskar Back · Esa Lindell · Miro Heiskanen
PK2
Josh Norris · Zach Benson · Rasmus Dahlin · Louis Crevier
PK2
Roope Hintz · Wyatt Johnston · Lian Bichsel · Thomas Harley
SabresProjected lines
L1
Josh Norris · Tage Thompson · Josh Doan
L2
Zach Benson · Noah Ostlund · Jack Quinn
L3
Peyton Krebs · Ryan McLeod · Konsta Helenius
L4
Jiri Kulich · Sam Carrick · Beck Malenstyn
D1
Rasmus Dahlin · Mattias Samuelsson
D2
Owen Power · Olen Zellweger
D3
Louis Crevier · Zach Metsa
PP1
Jack Quinn · Zach Benson · Josh Doan · Tage Thompson · Rasmus Dahlin
PP2
Konsta Helenius · Ryan McLeod · Noah Ostlund · Owen Power · Josh Norris
PK1
Ryan McLeod · Beck Malenstyn · Owen Power · Mattias Samuelsson
PK2
Josh Norris · Zach Benson · Rasmus Dahlin · Louis Crevier
StarsProjected lines
L1
Justin Hryckowian · Wyatt Johnston · Mikko Rantanen
L2
Jason Robertson · Roope Hintz · Tyler Seguin
L3
Sam Steel · Arttu Hyry · Jamie Benn
L4
Oskar Back · Radek Faksa · Colin Blackwell
D1
Thomas Harley · Miro Heiskanen
D2
Esa Lindell · Nils Lundkvist
D3
Lian Bichsel · Tyler Myers
PP1
Wyatt Johnston · Roope Hintz · Mikko Rantanen · Miro Heiskanen · Jason Robertson
PP2
Jamie Benn · Justin Hryckowian · Tyler Seguin · Esa Lindell · Thomas Harley
PK1
Radek Faksa · Oskar Back · Esa Lindell · Miro Heiskanen
PK2
Roope Hintz · Wyatt Johnston · Lian Bichsel · Thomas Harley
Last Game (2026-10-03) · Oct 4 · 6:06 AM CT Mike Heika · Oct 3 · 6:37 PM CT
Sabres
INJURY REPORT
Stars
Alex Lyon
IR · Upper body · Expected back Oct 6
Matt Duchene
IR · Lower body · Expected back Oct 25
Conor Timmins
IR · Lower body · Expected back Oct 17
Harrison Scott
IR · Undisclosed injury · Expected back Oct 8
Topias Leinonen
IR · Lower body · Expected back Oct 10
Luke Krys
IR · Undisclosed injury · Expected back Oct 10
Jack Rathbone
IR · Undisclosed injury · Expected back Oct 24
Cameron Hughes
IR · Upper body · Expected back Oct 5
Jason Zucker
IR · Abdomen (surgery) · Expected back Oct 15
Tristan Bertucci
IR · Undisclosed injury · Expected back Oct 5
Jaxon Fuder
IR · Undisclosed injury · Expected back Oct 5
SabresInjury report
Alex Lyon
IR · Upper body · Expected back Oct 6
Conor Timmins
IR · Lower body · Expected back Oct 17
Topias Leinonen
IR · Lower body · Expected back Oct 10
Jack Rathbone
IR · Undisclosed injury · Expected back Oct 24
Jason Zucker
IR · Abdomen (surgery) · Expected back Oct 15
StarsInjury report
Matt Duchene
IR · Lower body · Expected back Oct 25
Harrison Scott
IR · Undisclosed injury · Expected back Oct 8
Luke Krys
IR · Undisclosed injury · Expected back Oct 10
Cameron Hughes
IR · Upper body · Expected back Oct 5
Tristan Bertucci
IR · Undisclosed injury · Expected back Oct 5
Jaxon Fuder
IR · Undisclosed injury · Expected back Oct 5
Last Game (2026-10-03) · Oct 4 · 6:06 AM CT Mike Heika · Oct 3 · 6:37 PM CT
STORYLINE
The Sabres won their last game and are 1-1-0 in their first 2 games. The Stars have dropped 2 straight and are 0-2-0 in their first 2 games.

Matchup Intel

Tage Thompson has solved Casey DeSmith before, 6 goals on 30 shots.

Owen Power has quietly owned this matchup, 6 points in the last 4 meetings. A milestone is in reach for Esa Lindell: 2 more points for 500 career points.

The numbers behind it
Matchup
Tage Thompson has 6 goals on Casey DeSmith (30 shots).
(Buffalo)
6 goals on Casey DeSmith
Matchup
Matt Grzelcyk has 19 shots on Casey DeSmith without a goal.
(Buffalo)
0/19 vs Casey DeSmith
Player
Owen Power has 6 points in his last 4 games against Dallas. See the games →
(Buffalo)
6 pts, last 4 vs DAL
Milestone
Esa Lindell is 2 points shy of 500 career points.
498 career points
Milestone
Mikko Rantanen is 5 points shy of 1500 career points.
1495 career points