Schedule / Matchup Preview

Buffalo Sabres vs Vancouver Canucks · Matchup Preview Based on 26-27 form — rosters current

Season 26-27
Matchup Preview @ Canucks · FRI · DEC 4 · 8:00 PM CT ← Back to schedule
Upcoming
FRI · DEC 4 · 8:00 PM CT
Rogers Arena
MSG-B
Buffalo Sabres
Sabres
1–1–0
@
Vancouver Canucks
Canucks
2–1–0
Upcoming
FRI · DEC 4 · 8:00 PM CT
MSG-B
Buffalo Sabres
Away · Sabres
1–1–0
2 PTS
VS
Puck Drop In
The read
Brock Boeser has made a habit of hurting the Sabres: 5 points in the last 4 meetings. But Filip Hronek is still looking for his first goal on Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen after 14 shots.
Rogers Arena
Vancouver Canucks
Home · Canucks
2–1–0
4 PTS
Sabres
GOALIES
Canucks
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
Expected
.784 SV% · 4.03 GAA · 1W
.847 SV% L5 · Cooling
VS
Kevin Lankinen
Kevin Lankinen
Likely · 4757-kevin-lankinen
.789 SV% · 8.66 GAA · 1W
.822 SV% L5 · Cooling
Sabres
PROJECTED TOP LINES
Canucks
L1
Josh Norris · Tage Thompson · Josh Doan
L1
Marco Rossi · Elias Pettersson · Linus Karlsson
L2
Zach Benson · Noah Ostlund · Jack Quinn
L2
Liam Ohgren · Paul Cotter · Brock Boeser
L3
Peyton Krebs · Ryan McLeod · Konsta Helenius
L3
Drew O'Connor · Aatu Raty · Brendan Gallagher
L4
Jiri Kulich · Sam Carrick · Beck Malenstyn
L4
Arshdeep Bains · Max Sasson · Jonathan Lekkerimaki
D1
Rasmus Dahlin · Mattias Samuelsson
D1
Zeev Buium · Filip Hronek
D2
Owen Power · Olen Zellweger
D2
Jamie Oleksiak · Tom Willander
D3
Louis Crevier · Zach Metsa
D3
Elias Nils Pettersson · Luke Schenn
PP1
Jack Quinn · Zach Benson · Josh Doan · Tage Thompson · Rasmus Dahlin
PP1
Jonathan Lekkerimaki · Elias Pettersson · Brock Boeser · Filip Hronek · Marco Rossi
PP2
Konsta Helenius · Ryan McLeod · Noah Ostlund · Owen Power · Josh Norris
PP2
Brendan Gallagher · Linus Karlsson · Liam Ohgren · Zeev Buium · Tom Willander
PK1
Ryan McLeod · Beck Malenstyn · Owen Power · Mattias Samuelsson
PK1
Elias Pettersson · Drew O'Connor · Jamie Oleksiak · Filip Hronek
PK2
Josh Norris · Zach Benson · Rasmus Dahlin · Louis Crevier
PK2
Paul Cotter · Brock Boeser · Elias Nils Pettersson · Luke Schenn
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
CanucksProjected lines
L1
Marco Rossi · Elias Pettersson · Linus Karlsson
L2
Liam Ohgren · Paul Cotter · Brock Boeser
L3
Drew O'Connor · Aatu Raty · Brendan Gallagher
L4
Arshdeep Bains · Max Sasson · Jonathan Lekkerimaki
D1
Zeev Buium · Filip Hronek
D2
Jamie Oleksiak · Tom Willander
D3
Elias Nils Pettersson · Luke Schenn
PP1
Jonathan Lekkerimaki · Elias Pettersson · Brock Boeser · Filip Hronek · Marco Rossi
PP2
Brendan Gallagher · Linus Karlsson · Liam Ohgren · Zeev Buium · Tom Willander
PK1
Elias Pettersson · Drew O'Connor · Jamie Oleksiak · Filip Hronek
PK2
Paul Cotter · Brock Boeser · Elias Nils Pettersson · Luke Schenn
Last Game (2026-10-03) · Oct 4 · 6:06 AM CT Thomas Drance · Oct 3 · 8:41 PM CT
Sabres
INJURY REPORT
Canucks
Alex Lyon
IR · Upper body · Expected back Oct 6
Jake DeBrusk
DAY-TO-DAY · Illness
Conor Timmins
IR · Lower body · Expected back Oct 17
Jack Thompson
IR · Undisclosed injury · Expected back Oct 11
Topias Leinonen
IR · Lower body · Expected back Oct 10
Akil Thomas
IR · Undisclosed injury · Expected back Oct 11
Jack Rathbone
IR · Undisclosed injury · Expected back Oct 24
Mackenzie MacEachern
IR · Undisclosed injury · Expected back Oct 10
Jason Zucker
IR · Abdomen (surgery) · Expected back Oct 15
Thatcher Demko
IR · Hip (surgery) · Expected back Dec 21
Filip Chytil
IR · Shoulder · Expected back Oct 8
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
CanucksInjury report
Jake DeBrusk
DAY-TO-DAY · Illness
Jack Thompson
IR · Undisclosed injury · Expected back Oct 11
Akil Thomas
IR · Undisclosed injury · Expected back Oct 11
Mackenzie MacEachern
IR · Undisclosed injury · Expected back Oct 10
Thatcher Demko
IR · Hip (surgery) · Expected back Dec 21
Filip Chytil
IR · Shoulder · Expected back Oct 8
Last Game (2026-10-03) · Oct 4 · 6:06 AM CT Thomas Drance · Oct 3 · 8:41 PM CT
STORYLINE
The Sabres won their last game and are 1-1-0 in their first 2 games. The Canucks won their last game and are 2-1-0 in their first 3 games.

Matchup Intel

Brock Boeser has made a habit of hurting the Sabres: 5 points in the last 4 meetings. But Filip Hronek is still looking for his first goal on Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen after 14 shots.

Kevin Lankinen has had trouble with the Sabres, a .873 save percentage on 71 shots. A milestone is in reach for Paul Cotter: 3 more goals for 100 career goals.

The numbers behind it
Player
Brock Boeser has 5 points in his last 4 games against Buffalo. See the games →
(Vancouver)
5 pts, last 4 vs BUF
Matchup
Filip Hronek has 14 shots on Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen without a goal.
(Vancouver)
0/14 vs Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
Goaltending
Kevin Lankinen has struggled against Buffalo — a .873 save % on 71 shots.
.873 SV% vs BUF
Matchup
Filip Chytil has 12 shots on Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen without a goal.
(Vancouver)
0/12 vs Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
Milestone
Paul Cotter is 3 goals shy of 100 career goals.
97 career goals
Milestone
Drew O'Connor is 3 goals shy of 100 career goals.
97 career goals