Schedule / Matchup Preview

Chicago Blackhawks vs Buffalo Sabres · Matchup Preview Based on 26-27 form — rosters current

Season 26-27
Matchup Preview vs Sabres · THU · NOV 12 · 7:00 PM CT ← Back to schedule
Upcoming
THU · NOV 12 · 7:00 PM CT
United Center
CHSN · MSG-B
Chicago Blackhawks
Blackhawks
0–3–0
VS
Buffalo Sabres
Sabres
1–1–0
Upcoming
THU · NOV 12 · 7:00 PM CT
CHSN · MSG-B
Chicago Blackhawks
Home · Blackhawks
0–3–0
0 PTS
VS
Puck Drop In
The read
Patrick Kane has solved Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen before, 5 goals on 18 shots. But this matchup has not been kind to the Blackhawks: 10 losses in the last 13 against Buffalo.
United Center
Buffalo Sabres
Away · Sabres
1–1–0
2 PTS
Blackhawks
GOALIES
Sabres
Spencer Knight
Spencer Knight
Expected
.875 SV% · 4.04 GAA · 0W
.824 SV% L5 · Cooling
VS
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
Expected
.784 SV% · 4.03 GAA · 1W
.847 SV% L5 · Cooling
Blackhawks
PROJECTED TOP LINES
Sabres
L1
Roman Kantserov · Frank Nazar · Patrick Kane
L1
Josh Norris · Tage Thompson · Josh Doan
L2
Tyler Bertuzzi · Anton Frondell · Teuvo Teravainen
L2
Zach Benson · Noah Ostlund · Jack Quinn
L3
Ryan Donato · Oliver Moore · Nick Lardis
L3
Peyton Krebs · Ryan McLeod · Konsta Helenius
L4
Cole Smith · Ryan Greene · Jordan Greenway
L4
Jiri Kulich · Sam Carrick · Beck Malenstyn
D1
Alex Vlasic · Ian Cole
D1
Rasmus Dahlin · Mattias Samuelsson
D2
Wyatt Kaiser · Artyom Levshunov
D2
Owen Power · Olen Zellweger
D3
Kevin Korchinski · Ethan Del Mastro
D3
Louis Crevier · Zach Metsa
PP1
Tyler Bertuzzi · Roman Kantserov · Frank Nazar · Patrick Kane · Artyom Levshunov
PP1
Jack Quinn · Zach Benson · Josh Doan · Tage Thompson · Rasmus Dahlin
PP2
Ryan Donato · Anton Frondell · Nick Lardis · Oliver Moore · Kevin Korchinski
PP2
Konsta Helenius · Ryan McLeod · Noah Ostlund · Owen Power · Josh Norris
PK1
Oliver Moore · Cole Smith · Alex Vlasic · Ian Cole
PK1
Ryan McLeod · Beck Malenstyn · Owen Power · Mattias Samuelsson
PK2
Frank Nazar · Jordan Greenway · Wyatt Kaiser · Artyom Levshunov
PK2
Josh Norris · Zach Benson · Rasmus Dahlin · Louis Crevier
BlackhawksProjected lines
L1
Roman Kantserov · Frank Nazar · Patrick Kane
L2
Tyler Bertuzzi · Anton Frondell · Teuvo Teravainen
L3
Ryan Donato · Oliver Moore · Nick Lardis
L4
Cole Smith · Ryan Greene · Jordan Greenway
D1
Alex Vlasic · Ian Cole
D2
Wyatt Kaiser · Artyom Levshunov
D3
Kevin Korchinski · Ethan Del Mastro
PP1
Tyler Bertuzzi · Roman Kantserov · Frank Nazar · Patrick Kane · Artyom Levshunov
PP2
Ryan Donato · Anton Frondell · Nick Lardis · Oliver Moore · Kevin Korchinski
PK1
Oliver Moore · Cole Smith · Alex Vlasic · Ian Cole
PK2
Frank Nazar · Jordan Greenway · Wyatt Kaiser · Artyom Levshunov
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
Last Game (2026-10-03) · Oct 4 · 6:05 AM CT Last Game (2026-10-03) · Oct 4 · 6:06 AM CT
Blackhawks
INJURY REPORT
Sabres
Andrew Mangiapane
DAY-TO-DAY · Lower body
Alex Lyon
IR · Upper body · Expected back Oct 6
Bowen Byram
DAY-TO-DAY · Personal
Conor Timmins
IR · Lower body · Expected back Oct 17
Connor Bedard
IR · Shoulder · Expected back Nov 7
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
BlackhawksInjury report
Andrew Mangiapane
DAY-TO-DAY · Lower body
Bowen Byram
DAY-TO-DAY · Personal
Connor Bedard
IR · Shoulder · Expected back Nov 7
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
Last Game (2026-10-03) · Oct 4 · 6:05 AM CT Last Game (2026-10-03) · Oct 4 · 6:06 AM CT
STORYLINE
The Blackhawks have dropped 3 straight and are 0-3-0 in their first 3 games. The Sabres won their last game and are 1-1-0 in their first 2 games.

Matchup Intel

Patrick Kane has solved Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen before, 5 goals on 18 shots. But this matchup has not been kind to the Blackhawks: 10 losses in the last 13 against Buffalo.

The problem is Rasmus Dahlin, who has 7 points in his last 4 against the Blackhawks. Buffalo won the first meeting 4-3 back on Oct 3.

The numbers behind it
Matchup
Patrick Kane has 5 goals on Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (18 shots).
(Chicago)
5 goals on Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
Matchup
Tage Thompson has 5 goals on Spencer Knight (27 shots).
(Buffalo)
5 goals on Spencer Knight
History
Chicago has lost 10 of their last 13 against Buffalo. See the games →
10-3 last 13 vs BUF
Player
Rasmus Dahlin has 7 points in his last 4 games against Chicago. See the games →
(Buffalo)
7 pts, last 4 vs CHI
Player
Jack Quinn has 5 points in his last 4 games against Chicago. See the games →
(Buffalo)
5 pts, last 4 vs CHI
Series
Second meeting of the season — Buffalo took the first 4-3 on Oct 3. See the games →
0-1 series, CHI