Schedule / Matchup Preview

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

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

Matchup Intel

History is on the Avalanche's side: they've taken 11 of the last 13 against Buffalo. But the problem is Tage Thompson, who has 8 points in his last 4 against the Avalanche.

Martin Necas has solved Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen before, 4 goals on 11 shots.

The numbers behind it
History
Colorado has won 11 of their last 13 against Buffalo. See the games →
11-2 last 13 vs BUF
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
Martin Necas has 4 goals on Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (11 shots).
(Colorado)
4 goals on Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
Matchup
Conor Sheary has 4 goals on Mackenzie Blackwood (20 shots).
(Buffalo)
4 goals on Mackenzie Blackwood