Schedule / Matchup Preview

Buffalo Sabres vs Colorado Avalanche · Matchup Preview Based on 26-27 form — rosters current

Season 26-27
Matchup Preview @ Avalanche · SAT · JAN 30 · 4:00 PM CT ← Back to schedule
Upcoming
SAT · JAN 30 · 4:00 PM CT
Ball Arena
MSG-B · ALT
Buffalo Sabres
Sabres
1–1–0
@
Colorado Avalanche
Avalanche
2–0–0
Upcoming
SAT · JAN 30 · 4:00 PM CT
MSG-B · ALT
Buffalo Sabres
Away · Sabres
1–1–0
2 PTS
VS
Puck Drop In
The read
This matchup has not been kind to the Sabres: 11 losses in the last 13 against Colorado. But Tage Thompson has quietly owned this matchup, 8 points in the last 4 meetings.
Ball Arena
Colorado Avalanche
Home · Avalanche
2–0–0
4 PTS
Sabres
GOALIES
Avalanche
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
Expected
.784 SV% · 4.03 GAA · 1W
.847 SV% L5 · Cooling
VS
Mackenzie Blackwood
Mackenzie Blackwood
Expected
.912 SV% · 2.50 GAA · 2W
.886 SV% L5 · Cooling
Sabres
PROJECTED TOP LINES
Avalanche
L1
Josh Norris · Tage Thompson · Josh Doan
L1
Artturi Lehkonen · Nathan MacKinnon · Martin Necas
L2
Zach Benson · Noah Ostlund · Jack Quinn
L2
Gabriel Landeskog · Brock Nelson · Nazem Kadri
L3
Peyton Krebs · Ryan McLeod · Konsta Helenius
L3
Jaden Schwartz · Fedor Svechkov · T.J. Hughes
L4
Jiri Kulich · Sam Carrick · Beck Malenstyn
L4
Parker Kelly · Nicolas Roy
D1
Rasmus Dahlin · Mattias Samuelsson
D1
Devon Toews · Cale Makar
D2
Owen Power · Olen Zellweger
D2
Brett Kulak · Sam Malinski
D3
Louis Crevier · Zach Metsa
D3
Josh Manson · Brent Burns
PP1
Jack Quinn · Zach Benson · Josh Doan · Tage Thompson · Rasmus Dahlin
PP1
T.J. Hughes · Gabriel Landeskog · Nathan MacKinnon · Martin Necas · Cale Makar
PP2
Konsta Helenius · Ryan McLeod · Noah Ostlund · Owen Power · Josh Norris
PP2
Jaden Schwartz · Nazem Kadri · Artturi Lehkonen · Devon Toews · Brock Nelson
PK1
Ryan McLeod · Beck Malenstyn · Owen Power · Mattias Samuelsson
PK1
Parker Kelly · Nicolas Roy · Devon Toews · Brent Burns
PK2
Josh Norris · Zach Benson · Rasmus Dahlin · Louis Crevier
PK2
Brock Nelson · Artturi Lehkonen · Josh Manson · Cale Makar
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
AvalancheProjected lines
L1
Artturi Lehkonen · Nathan MacKinnon · Martin Necas
L2
Gabriel Landeskog · Brock Nelson · Nazem Kadri
L3
Jaden Schwartz · Fedor Svechkov · T.J. Hughes
L4
Parker Kelly · Nicolas Roy
D1
Devon Toews · Cale Makar
D2
Brett Kulak · Sam Malinski
D3
Josh Manson · Brent Burns
PP1
T.J. Hughes · Gabriel Landeskog · Nathan MacKinnon · Martin Necas · Cale Makar
PP2
Jaden Schwartz · Nazem Kadri · Artturi Lehkonen · Devon Toews · Brock Nelson
PK1
Parker Kelly · Nicolas Roy · Devon Toews · Brent Burns
PK2
Brock Nelson · Artturi Lehkonen · Josh Manson · Cale Makar
Last Game (2026-10-03) · Oct 4 · 6:06 AM CT Bailey Curtis · Oct 3 · 7:41 PM CT
Sabres
INJURY REPORT
Avalanche
Alex Lyon
IR · Upper body · Expected back Oct 6
Zachary L'Heureux
IR · Lower body · Expected back Oct 7
Conor Timmins
IR · Lower body · Expected back Oct 17
Logan O'Connor
IR · Lower body · Expected back Oct 7
Topias Leinonen
IR · Lower body · Expected back Oct 10
Trent Miner
IR · Undisclosed injury · Expected back Oct 10
Jack Rathbone
IR · Undisclosed injury · Expected back Oct 24
Georgii Merkulov
IR · Undisclosed injury · Expected back Oct 7
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
AvalancheInjury report
Zachary L'Heureux
IR · Lower body · Expected back Oct 7
Logan O'Connor
IR · Lower body · Expected back Oct 7
Trent Miner
IR · Undisclosed injury · Expected back Oct 10
Georgii Merkulov
IR · Undisclosed injury · Expected back Oct 7
Last Game (2026-10-03) · Oct 4 · 6:06 AM CT Bailey Curtis · Oct 3 · 7:41 PM CT
STORYLINE
The Sabres won their last game and are 1-1-0 in their first 2 games. The Avalanche have won 2 straight and are 2-0-0 in their first 2 games.

Matchup Intel

This matchup has not been kind to the Sabres: 11 losses in the last 13 against Colorado. But Tage Thompson has quietly owned this matchup, 8 points in the last 4 meetings.

Conor Sheary has solved Mackenzie Blackwood before, 4 goals on 20 shots.

The numbers behind it
History
Buffalo has lost 11 of their last 13 against Colorado. See the games →
11-2 last 13 vs COL
Player
Nathan MacKinnon has 9 points in his last 4 games against Buffalo. See the games →
(Colorado)
9 pts, last 4 vs BUF
Player
Tage Thompson has 8 points in his last 4 games against Colorado. See the games →
(Buffalo)
8 pts, last 4 vs COL
Matchup
Conor Sheary has 4 goals on Mackenzie Blackwood (20 shots).
(Buffalo)
4 goals on Mackenzie Blackwood
Matchup
Martin Necas has 4 goals on Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (11 shots).
(Colorado)
4 goals on Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen