Schedule
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Matchup Preview
Buffalo Sabres vs Tampa Bay Lightning · Matchup Preview Based on 26-27 form — rosters current
Buffalo Sabres
Home · Sabres
1–1–0
2 PTS
VS
Puck Drop In
DAYS
4393H
·
58M
·
56S
The read
Jason Zucker has solved Andrei Vasilevskiy before, 8 goals on 33 shots. But Tampa Bay has found Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen beatable: .852 on 189 shots.
KeyBank Center
Tampa Bay Lightning
Away · Lightning
1–1–0
2 PTS
Sabres
GOALIES
Lightning
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
Expected
.784 SV% · 4.03 GAA · 1W
.847 SV% L5 · Cooling
VS
Andrei Vasilevskiy
Expected
.889 SV% · 2.59 GAA · 1W
.888 SV% L5 · Cooling
Sabres
PROJECTED TOP LINES
Lightning
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
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
LightningProjected lines
No projected lines yet
Last Game (2026-10-03) · Oct 4 · 6:06 AM CT
Sabres
INJURY REPORT
Lightning
Alex Lyon
IR · Upper body · Expected back Oct 6
Emil Lilleberg
DAY-TO-DAY · Undisclosed injury
Conor Timmins
IR · Lower body · Expected back Oct 17
Yanni Gourde
IR · Hip (surgery) · Expected back Dec 2
Topias Leinonen
IR · Lower body · Expected back Oct 10
Dominic James
IR · Hand · Expected back Oct 13
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
LightningInjury report
Emil Lilleberg
DAY-TO-DAY · Undisclosed injury
Yanni Gourde
IR · Hip (surgery) · Expected back Dec 2
Dominic James
IR · Hand · Expected back Oct 13
Last Game (2026-10-03) · Oct 4 · 6:06 AM CT
STORYLINE
The Sabres won their last game and are 1-1-0 in their first 2 games. The Lightning won their last game and are 1-1-0 in their first 2 games.
Live
Matchup Intel
Jason Zucker has solved Andrei Vasilevskiy before, 8 goals on 33 shots. But Tampa Bay has found Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen beatable: .852 on 189 shots.
Rasmus Dahlin has quietly owned this matchup, 8 points in the last 4 meetings.
The numbers behind it
Matchup
Jason Zucker has 8 goals on Andrei Vasilevskiy (33 shots).
(Buffalo)
8
goals on Andrei Vasilevskiy
Matchup
Conor Sheary has 6 goals on Andrei Vasilevskiy (37 shots).
(Buffalo)
6
goals on Andrei Vasilevskiy
Goaltending
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has struggled against Tampa Bay — a .852 save % on 189 shots.
.852
SV% vs TBL
Player
Rasmus Dahlin has 8 points in his last 4 games against Tampa Bay. See the games →
(Buffalo)
8
pts, last 4 vs TBL
Player
Nikita Kucherov has 8 points in his last 4 games against Buffalo. See the games →
(Tampa Bay)
8
pts, last 4 vs BUF