Schedule / Matchup Preview

Buffalo Sabres vs Pittsburgh Penguins · Matchup Preview Based on 26-27 form — rosters current

Season 26-27
Matchup Preview @ Penguins · TUE · DEC 22 · 6:00 PM CT ← Back to schedule
Upcoming
TUE · DEC 22 · 6:00 PM CT
PPG Paints Arena
MSG-B · SN-PIT
Buffalo Sabres
Sabres
1–1–0
@
Pittsburgh Penguins
Penguins
2–0–0
Upcoming
TUE · DEC 22 · 6:00 PM CT
MSG-B · SN-PIT
Buffalo Sabres
Away · Sabres
1–1–0
2 PTS
VS
Puck Drop In
The read
Rickard Rakell has solved Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen before, 4 goals on 16 shots.
PPG Paints Arena
Pittsburgh Penguins
Home · Penguins
2–0–0
4 PTS
Sabres
GOALIES
Penguins
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
Expected
.784 SV% · 4.03 GAA · 1W
.847 SV% L5 · Cooling
VS
Arturs Silovs
Arturs Silovs
Expected
.886 SV% · 2.47 GAA · 2W
.920 SV% L5 · Locked in
Sabres
PROJECTED TOP LINES
Penguins
L1
Josh Norris · Tage Thompson · Josh Doan
L1
Nicholas Robertson · Sidney Crosby · Rickard Rakell
L2
Zach Benson · Noah Ostlund · Jack Quinn
L2
Egor Chinakhov · Tommy Novak · Evgeni Malkin
L3
Peyton Krebs · Ryan McLeod · Konsta Helenius
L3
Andrei Kuzmenko · Ben Kindel · Hendrix Lapierre
L4
Jiri Kulich · Sam Carrick · Beck Malenstyn
L4
Connor Dewar · Blake Lizotte · Filip Hallander
D1
Rasmus Dahlin · Mattias Samuelsson
D1
Declan Carlile · Erik Karlsson
D2
Owen Power · Olen Zellweger
D2
Samuel Girard · Kaedan Korczak
D3
Louis Crevier · Zach Metsa
D3
Trevor van Riemsdyk · Kris Letang
PP1
Jack Quinn · Zach Benson · Josh Doan · Tage Thompson · Rasmus Dahlin
PP1
Ben Kindel · Tommy Novak · Rickard Rakell · Erik Karlsson · Sidney Crosby
PP2
Konsta Helenius · Ryan McLeod · Noah Ostlund · Owen Power · Josh Norris
PP2
Andrei Kuzmenko · Hendrix Lapierre · Egor Chinakhov · Kris Letang · Evgeni Malkin
PK1
Ryan McLeod · Beck Malenstyn · Owen Power · Mattias Samuelsson
PK1
Filip Hallander · Connor Dewar · Samuel Girard · Kris Letang
PK2
Josh Norris · Zach Benson · Rasmus Dahlin · Louis Crevier
PK2
Ben Kindel · Rickard Rakell · Trevor van Riemsdyk · Erik Karlsson
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
PenguinsProjected lines
L1
Nicholas Robertson · Sidney Crosby · Rickard Rakell
L2
Egor Chinakhov · Tommy Novak · Evgeni Malkin
L3
Andrei Kuzmenko · Ben Kindel · Hendrix Lapierre
L4
Connor Dewar · Blake Lizotte · Filip Hallander
D1
Declan Carlile · Erik Karlsson
D2
Samuel Girard · Kaedan Korczak
D3
Trevor van Riemsdyk · Kris Letang
PP1
Ben Kindel · Tommy Novak · Rickard Rakell · Erik Karlsson · Sidney Crosby
PP2
Andrei Kuzmenko · Hendrix Lapierre · Egor Chinakhov · Kris Letang · Evgeni Malkin
PK1
Filip Hallander · Connor Dewar · Samuel Girard · Kris Letang
PK2
Ben Kindel · Rickard Rakell · Trevor van Riemsdyk · Erik Karlsson
Last Game (2026-10-03) · Oct 4 · 6:06 AM CT Last Game (2026-10-03) · Oct 4 · 6:19 AM CT
Sabres
INJURY REPORT
Penguins
Alex Lyon
IR · Upper body · Expected back Oct 6
Bryan Rust
IR · Upper body · Expected back Oct 5
Conor Timmins
IR · Lower body · Expected back Oct 17
Justin Brazeau
IR · Lower body · Expected back Oct 7
Topias Leinonen
IR · Lower body · Expected back Oct 10
Ryan Graves
IR · Knee · Expected back Oct 24
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
PenguinsInjury report
Bryan Rust
IR · Upper body · Expected back Oct 5
Justin Brazeau
IR · Lower body · Expected back Oct 7
Ryan Graves
IR · Knee · Expected back Oct 24
Last Game (2026-10-03) · Oct 4 · 6:06 AM CT Last Game (2026-10-03) · Oct 4 · 6:19 AM CT
STORYLINE
The Sabres won their last game and are 1-1-0 in their first 2 games. The Penguins have won 2 straight and are 2-0-0 in their first 2 games.

Matchup Intel

Rickard Rakell has solved Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen before, 4 goals on 16 shots.

Nick Robertson is 2 goals shy of 100 career goals.

The numbers behind it
Matchup
Rickard Rakell has 4 goals on Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (16 shots).
(Pittsburgh)
4 goals on Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
Matchup
Sidney Crosby has 4 goals on Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (24 shots).
(Pittsburgh)
4 goals on Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
Milestone
Nick Robertson is 2 goals shy of 100 career goals.
98 career goals