Schedule
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Matchup Preview
Buffalo Sabres vs New York Islanders · Matchup Preview Based on 26-27 form — rosters current
Buffalo Sabres
Away · Sabres
1–1–0
2 PTS
VS
Puck Drop In
DAYS
4029H
·
59M
·
14S
The read
Jason Zucker has solved Ilya Sorokin before, 6 goals on 34 shots.
UBS Arena
New York Islanders
Home · Islanders
1–1–0
2 PTS
Sabres
GOALIES
Islanders
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
Expected
.784 SV% · 4.03 GAA · 1W
.847 SV% L5 · Cooling
VS
Ilya Sorokin
Expected
.968 SV% · 1.02 GAA · 1W
.884 SV% L5 · Cooling
Sabres
PROJECTED TOP LINES
Islanders
L1
Josh Norris · Tage Thompson · Josh Doan
L1
Emil Heineman · Bo Horvat · Kyle Palmieri
L2
Zach Benson · Noah Ostlund · Jack Quinn
L2
Victor Eklund · Calum Ritchie · Brayden Schenn
L3
Peyton Krebs · Ryan McLeod · Konsta Helenius
L3
Simon Holmstrom · Jean-Gabriel Pageau · Anthony Duclair
L4
Jiri Kulich · Sam Carrick · Beck Malenstyn
L4
Ondrej Palat · Casey Cizikas · Matias Maccelli
D1
Rasmus Dahlin · Mattias Samuelsson
D1
Adam Pelech · Matthew Schaefer
D2
Owen Power · Olen Zellweger
D2
Alexander Romanov · Ryan Pulock
D3
Louis Crevier · Zach Metsa
D3
Logan Stanley · Tony DeAngelo
PP1
Jack Quinn · Zach Benson · Josh Doan · Tage Thompson · Rasmus Dahlin
PP1
Kyle Palmieri · Bo Horvat · Brayden Schenn · Matias Maccelli · Matthew Schaefer
PP2
Konsta Helenius · Ryan McLeod · Noah Ostlund · Owen Power · Josh Norris
PP2
Victor Eklund · Anthony Duclair · Emil Heineman · Calum Ritchie · Tony DeAngelo
PK1
Ryan McLeod · Beck Malenstyn · Owen Power · Mattias Samuelsson
PK1
Jean-Gabriel Pageau · Simon Holmstrom · Adam Pelech · Ryan Pulock
PK2
Josh Norris · Zach Benson · Rasmus Dahlin · Louis Crevier
PK2
Bo Horvat · Kyle Palmieri · Logan Stanley · Alexander Romanov
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
IslandersProjected lines
L1
Emil Heineman · Bo Horvat · Kyle Palmieri
L2
Victor Eklund · Calum Ritchie · Brayden Schenn
L3
Simon Holmstrom · Jean-Gabriel Pageau · Anthony Duclair
L4
Ondrej Palat · Casey Cizikas · Matias Maccelli
D1
Adam Pelech · Matthew Schaefer
D2
Alexander Romanov · Ryan Pulock
D3
Logan Stanley · Tony DeAngelo
PP1
Kyle Palmieri · Bo Horvat · Brayden Schenn · Matias Maccelli · Matthew Schaefer
PP2
Victor Eklund · Anthony Duclair · Emil Heineman · Calum Ritchie · Tony DeAngelo
PK1
Jean-Gabriel Pageau · Simon Holmstrom · Adam Pelech · Ryan Pulock
PK2
Bo Horvat · Kyle Palmieri · Logan Stanley · Alexander Romanov
Last Game (2026-10-03) · Oct 4 · 6:06 AM CT
Ethan Sears · as of Oct 3
Sabres
INJURY REPORT
Islanders
Alex Lyon
IR · Upper body · Expected back Oct 6
Mathew Barzal
IR · Knee · Expected back Oct 10
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
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
IslandersInjury report
Mathew Barzal
IR · Knee · Expected back Oct 10
Last Game (2026-10-03) · Oct 4 · 6:06 AM CT
Ethan Sears · as of Oct 3
STORYLINE
The Sabres won their last game and are 1-1-0 in their first 2 games. The Islanders won their last game and are 1-1-0 in their first 2 games.
Live
Matchup Intel
Jason Zucker has solved Ilya Sorokin before, 6 goals on 34 shots.
Rasmus Dahlin has quietly owned this matchup, 6 points in the last 4 meetings. New York has struggled to beat Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen: .937 on 142 shots.
The numbers behind it
Matchup
Jason Zucker has 6 goals on Ilya Sorokin (34 shots).
(Buffalo)
6
goals on Ilya Sorokin
Matchup
Brayden Schenn has 6 goals on Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (19 shots).
(New York)
6
goals on Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
Goaltending
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has a .937 save % against New York (142 shots).
.937
SV% vs NYI
Player
Rasmus Dahlin has 6 points in his last 4 games against New York. See the games →
(Buffalo)
6
pts, last 4 vs NYI
Player
Jack Quinn has 5 points in his last 4 games against New York. See the games →
(Buffalo)
5
pts, last 4 vs NYI
Milestone
Vitek Vanecek is 1 win shy of 200 career wins.
199
career wins