Schedule / Matchup Preview

New York Islanders vs Buffalo Sabres · Matchup Preview Based on 26-27 form — rosters current

Season 26-27
Matchup Preview vs Sabres · SUN · MAR 21 · 2:00 PM CT ← Back to schedule
Upcoming
SUN · MAR 21 · 2:00 PM CT
UBS Arena
MSGSN · MSG-B
New York Islanders
Islanders
1–1–0
VS
Buffalo Sabres
Sabres
1–1–0
Upcoming
SUN · MAR 21 · 2:00 PM CT
MSGSN · MSG-B
New York Islanders
Home · Islanders
1–1–0
2 PTS
VS
Puck Drop In
The read
Brayden Schenn has solved Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen before, 6 goals on 19 shots. But the Islanders have struggled to beat Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen: .937 on 142 shots.
UBS Arena
Buffalo Sabres
Away · Sabres
1–1–0
2 PTS
Islanders
GOALIES
Sabres
Ilya Sorokin
Ilya Sorokin
Expected
.968 SV% · 1.02 GAA · 1W
.884 SV% L5 · Cooling
VS
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
Expected
.784 SV% · 4.03 GAA · 1W
.847 SV% L5 · Cooling
Islanders
PROJECTED TOP LINES
Sabres
L1
Emil Heineman · Bo Horvat · Kyle Palmieri
L1
Josh Norris · Tage Thompson · Josh Doan
L2
Victor Eklund · Calum Ritchie · Brayden Schenn
L2
Zach Benson · Noah Ostlund · Jack Quinn
L3
Simon Holmstrom · Jean-Gabriel Pageau · Anthony Duclair
L3
Peyton Krebs · Ryan McLeod · Konsta Helenius
L4
Ondrej Palat · Casey Cizikas · Matias Maccelli
L4
Jiri Kulich · Sam Carrick · Beck Malenstyn
D1
Adam Pelech · Matthew Schaefer
D1
Rasmus Dahlin · Mattias Samuelsson
D2
Alexander Romanov · Ryan Pulock
D2
Owen Power · Olen Zellweger
D3
Logan Stanley · Tony DeAngelo
D3
Louis Crevier · Zach Metsa
PP1
Kyle Palmieri · Bo Horvat · Brayden Schenn · Matias Maccelli · Matthew Schaefer
PP1
Jack Quinn · Zach Benson · Josh Doan · Tage Thompson · Rasmus Dahlin
PP2
Victor Eklund · Anthony Duclair · Emil Heineman · Calum Ritchie · Tony DeAngelo
PP2
Konsta Helenius · Ryan McLeod · Noah Ostlund · Owen Power · Josh Norris
PK1
Jean-Gabriel Pageau · Simon Holmstrom · Adam Pelech · Ryan Pulock
PK1
Ryan McLeod · Beck Malenstyn · Owen Power · Mattias Samuelsson
PK2
Bo Horvat · Kyle Palmieri · Logan Stanley · Alexander Romanov
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
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
Ethan Sears · as of Oct 3 Last Game (2026-10-03) · Oct 4 · 6:06 AM CT
Islanders
INJURY REPORT
Sabres
Mathew Barzal
IR · Knee · Expected back Oct 10
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
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
Ethan Sears · as of Oct 3 Last Game (2026-10-03) · Oct 4 · 6:06 AM CT
STORYLINE
The Islanders won their last game and are 1-1-0 in their first 2 games. The Sabres won their last game and are 1-1-0 in their first 2 games.

Matchup Intel

Brayden Schenn has solved Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen before, 6 goals on 19 shots. But the Islanders have struggled to beat Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen: .937 on 142 shots.

The problem is Rasmus Dahlin, who has 6 points in his last 4 against the Islanders. A milestone is in reach for Vitek Vanecek: 1 more win for 200 career wins.

The numbers behind it
Matchup
Brayden Schenn has 6 goals on Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (19 shots).
(New York)
6 goals on Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
Matchup
Jason Zucker has 6 goals on Ilya Sorokin (34 shots).
(Buffalo)
6 goals on Ilya Sorokin
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