Schedule / Matchup Preview

Buffalo Sabres vs Anaheim Ducks · Matchup Preview Based on 26-27 form — rosters current

Season 26-27
Matchup Preview @ Ducks · THU · OCT 29 · 9:00 PM CT ← Back to schedule
Upcoming
THU · OCT 29 · 9:00 PM CT
Honda Center
ESPN+ · HULU · Disney+
Buffalo Sabres
Sabres
1–1–0
@
Anaheim Ducks
Ducks
1–0–0
Upcoming
THU · OCT 29 · 9:00 PM CT
ESPN+ · HULU · Disney+
Buffalo Sabres
Away · Sabres
1–1–0
2 PTS
VS
Puck Drop In
The read
Lukas Dostal has had trouble with the Sabres, a .875 save percentage on 112 shots. But Leo Carlsson has made a habit of hurting the Sabres: 6 points in the last 4 meetings.
Honda Center
Anaheim Ducks
Home · Ducks
1–0–0
2 PTS
Sabres
GOALIES
Ducks
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
Expected
.784 SV% · 4.03 GAA · 1W
.847 SV% L5 · Cooling
VS
Lukas Dostal
Lukas Dostal
Likely · 29143-lukas-dostal
.900 SV% · 3.00 GAA · 1W
.810 SV% L5 · Cooling
Sabres
PROJECTED TOP LINES
Ducks
L1
Josh Norris · Tage Thompson · Josh Doan
L1
A.J. Greer · Leo Carlsson · Cutter Gauthier
L2
Zach Benson · Noah Ostlund · Jack Quinn
L2
Beckett Sennecke · Mikael Granlund · Alex Killorn
L3
Peyton Krebs · Ryan McLeod · Konsta Helenius
L3
Nikita Nesterenko · Ryan Poehling · Frank Vatrano
L4
Jiri Kulich · Sam Carrick · Beck Malenstyn
L4
Jeff Malott · Tim Washe · Judd Caulfield
D1
Rasmus Dahlin · Mattias Samuelsson
D1
Jackson Lacombe · Tristan Luneau
D2
Owen Power · Olen Zellweger
D2
Pavel Mintyukov · Travis Mitchell
D3
Louis Crevier · Zach Metsa
D3
Tyson Hinds · Noah Warren
PP1
Jack Quinn · Zach Benson · Josh Doan · Tage Thompson · Rasmus Dahlin
PP1
Beckett Sennecke · Leo Carlsson · Mikael Granlund · Jackson Lacombe · Cutter Gauthier
PP2
Konsta Helenius · Ryan McLeod · Noah Ostlund · Owen Power · Josh Norris
PP2
A.J. Greer · Ryan Poehling · Alex Killorn · Tristan Luneau · Pavel Mintyukov
PK1
Ryan McLeod · Beck Malenstyn · Owen Power · Mattias Samuelsson
PK1
Ryan Poehling · Alex Killorn · Jackson Lacombe · Pavel Mintyukov
PK2
Josh Norris · Zach Benson · Rasmus Dahlin · Louis Crevier
PK2
Tim Washe · Mikael Granlund · Noah Warren · Tyson Hinds
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
DucksProjected lines
L1
A.J. Greer · Leo Carlsson · Cutter Gauthier
L2
Beckett Sennecke · Mikael Granlund · Alex Killorn
L3
Nikita Nesterenko · Ryan Poehling · Frank Vatrano
L4
Jeff Malott · Tim Washe · Judd Caulfield
D1
Jackson Lacombe · Tristan Luneau
D2
Pavel Mintyukov · Travis Mitchell
D3
Tyson Hinds · Noah Warren
PP1
Beckett Sennecke · Leo Carlsson · Mikael Granlund · Jackson Lacombe · Cutter Gauthier
PP2
A.J. Greer · Ryan Poehling · Alex Killorn · Tristan Luneau · Pavel Mintyukov
PK1
Ryan Poehling · Alex Killorn · Jackson Lacombe · Pavel Mintyukov
PK2
Tim Washe · Mikael Granlund · Noah Warren · Tyson Hinds
Last Game (2026-10-03) · Oct 4 · 6:06 AM CT Derek Lee · as of Oct 2
Sabres
INJURY REPORT
Ducks
Alex Lyon
IR · Upper body · Expected back Oct 6
Drew Helleson
IR · Lower body · Expected back Oct 7
Conor Timmins
IR · Lower body · Expected back Oct 17
Troy Terry
IR · Hip (surgery) · Expected back Nov 21
Topias Leinonen
IR · Lower body · Expected back Oct 10
Ian Moore
IR · Lower body · Expected back Oct 16
Jack Rathbone
IR · Undisclosed injury · Expected back Oct 24
Jason Zucker
IR · Abdomen (surgery) · Expected back Oct 15
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
DucksInjury report
Drew Helleson
IR · Lower body · Expected back Oct 7
Troy Terry
IR · Hip (surgery) · Expected back Nov 21
Ian Moore
IR · Lower body · Expected back Oct 16
Last Game (2026-10-03) · Oct 4 · 6:06 AM CT Derek Lee · as of Oct 2
STORYLINE
The Sabres won their last game and are 1-1-0 in their first 2 games. The Ducks won their last game and are 1-0-0 in their first 1 game.

Matchup Intel

Lukas Dostal has had trouble with the Sabres, a .875 save percentage on 112 shots. But Leo Carlsson has made a habit of hurting the Sabres: 6 points in the last 4 meetings.

The numbers behind it
Goaltending
Lukas Dostal has struggled against Buffalo — a .875 save % on 112 shots.
.875 SV% vs BUF
Player
Owen Power has 6 points in his last 4 games against Anaheim. See the games →
(Buffalo)
6 pts, last 4 vs ANA
Player
Leo Carlsson has 6 points in his last 4 games against Buffalo. See the games →
(Anaheim)
6 pts, last 4 vs BUF