Buffalo Sabres
2026-27 · 0-1-0 · 0 pts · 7th Atlantic
The Buffalo Sabres are 0-1-0 (0 points) through 1 game of 2026-27, 7th in the Atlantic Division and 15th in the Eastern, with a -3 goal differential.
Next up: home to the Chicago Blackhawks on Sat, Oct 3.
In the latest game, the top line has been Benson – Ostlund – Quinn and the top pair Samuelsson – Dahlin. PP1 is Thompson, Dahlin, Quinn, Doan and Benson.
At 5-on-5 in 2025-26 they have taken 49.3% of shot attempts (16th in the NHL) and 51.0% of expected goals, outscoring opponents 193-156.
Alex Lyon has started 34 of 82 games with a .907 save percentage; Luukkonen has 34 starts.
5 players are on the injury report.
Forwards (5-on-5)
From the last 1 game of shift data. Times are together per game.
Sabres line combinations tool →Next game: Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen● Projected
- Alex Lyon34 GS · .907 SV%
- Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen34 GS · .910 SV%
- Colten Ellis14 GS · .903 SV%
No notable lineup changes in the last few games.
| Goalie | Games | Exp. starts | Confirmed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen | 3 | 2.2 | 0 |
| Alex Lyon | 3 | 0.5 | 0 |
| Colten Ellis | 3 | 0.3 | 0 |
Fri, Oct 2 to Thu, Oct 8, from the start model with LineupExperts status applied. Tonight's starter →
Sat, Oct 3 · CHI @ BUF
No schedule edge1 day rest · 2,729 km travel · +2 h
1 day rest · 472 km travel
No meaningful schedule edge: CHI (1 day rest) at BUF (1 day rest).
Tue, Oct 6 · MIN @ BUF
No schedule edge2 days rest · 1,161 km travel · +1 h
2 days rest
No meaningful schedule edge: MIN (2 days rest) at BUF (2 days rest).
Thu, Oct 8 · DAL @ BUF
No schedule edge2 days rest · 1,927 km travel · +1 h
1 day rest
No meaningful schedule edge: DAL (2 days rest) at BUF (1 day rest).
for Sabres's next games, as win-probability edges.
+2:01 PP TOI · PP1 in 1 of last 1 (was 13 of 20)
+3:51 TOI a game · 2 P in last 1 (0.40/GP before)
2 P in last 1 (0.45/GP before) · +1:55 TOI a game
+3:28 PP TOI · PP1 in 1 of last 1 (was 1 of 20)
+2:19 PP TOI · PP1 in 1 of last 1 (was 8 of 20)
Last 5 games vs the previous 20, through Oct 1, 2026. Full Ascension board →
Next: vs Chicago Blackhawks, Sat, Oct 3
- Thu, Oct 1@ CBJL 3-6
| Player | GP | G | A | P | PP TOI | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tage Thompson R | 81 | 40 | 41 | 81 | 19:15 | 3:29 | 50.3% |
| Rasmus Dahlin D | 77 | 19 | 55 | 74 | 24:11 | 3:27 | 52.0% |
| Alex Tuch R | 79 | 33 | 33 | 66 | 19:00 | 1:38 | 51.2% |
| Ryan McLeod C | 81 | 14 | 40 | 54 | 17:37 | 1:35 | 50.2% |
| Josh Doan R | 82 | 25 | 27 | 52 | 15:52 | 2:45 | 51.7% |
| Jack Quinn R | 82 | 20 | 31 | 51 | 15:39 | 2:13 | 48.2% |
Season: 2025-26 (until 2026-27 has 5 games).
Atlantic Division
- PP1Tage Thompson – Rasmus Dahlin – Jack Quinn – Josh Doan – Zach Benson4:22
47 PP goals in 406:38 of man-advantage time (21st in GF/60).
- Alex LyonGInjured ReserveUpper Body · ir
- Conor TimminsDInjured ReserveLower Body · After getting hurt in Saturday's preseason finale against Pittsburgh, Timmins is on injured reserve for the beginning of the 2026-27 campaign. He registered eight assists, 44 shots on goal, 81 blocked shots
- Topias LeinonenGInjured ReserveLower Body · Leinonen will probably report to AHL Rochester when he's ready to return to game action. He sustained the injury during the offseason.
- Jack RathboneDInjured ReserveUndisclosed · ir-nr
- Jason ZuckerLWInjured ReserveAbdomen · ir
Where the offence comes from
Share of Sabres 5-on-5 expected goals by how the possession started, 2025-26 (82 games, 171.8 xG).
- Above the league share
- Below
From our possession chains: transition is a chain won in the defensive or neutral zone; forecheck is an offensive-zone takeaway, forced giveaway or hit.
- Forecheck xG/600.280 · 21st of 32(2025-26)
- Team xGF%50.9% · 14th of 32(2025-26)
- Team CF%49.3% · 16th of 32(2025-26)
5-on-5, regular season. Forecheck xG/60 is the expected goals created straight off offensive-zone hits, takeaways and forced giveaways.
NHL Edge ranks (2026-27)
Puck and player tracking from NHL Edge. Bars are league rank (longer is better).
See how the Sabres rank in every stat → Corsi, xG, transition, special teams, goalies, luck, schedule and tracking, each against all 32 teams.
Sabres news
- NHL Injuries: Sabres, Blue Jackets, Stars, Wings, Oilers, Panthers, Rangers, Penguins, and BluesNHLRumors.com
- Igor Shesterkin ends 100-year Rangers drought with historic goalLarry Brown Sports
- With Korpisalo Injured Rangers Recall Goaltender Dylan Garandnhltraderumors.me
- Pavel Dorofeyev News: Two points in debut with new teamRotoWire
- Rangers' Pavel Dorofeyev: Two points in debut with new teamCBS Sports
- Mika Zibanejad News: Two-point effort in winRotoWire
Headlines via LineupExperts. Links open the original publisher.