Game 11

Buffalo Sabres (4-4-2) vs. New York Islanders (6-4-3)

Puck Drop: 7:00 PM EST | Key Bank Center | Buffalo, NY

TV: MSG

Radio: WGR 550

SB Nation Islanders Blog: Lighthouse Hockey

Know Your Opponent

New York Islanders

Record: (6-4-3)

Division Ranking: 3rd in East Division

PP: 15th (21.4%)

PK: 12th (81.8%)

What to Watch

1. Hockey is Back!

The last time the Sabres were on the ice was a little over two weeks ago. They’re back on the ice tonight against the Islanders. The Sabres sit five points behind the Islanders in the standings in the East Division going into tonight. However, a Sabres win puts them ahead of the Isles in points percentage.

Points percentage is what we should watch until it becomes clear every team in the division will play 56 games this season.

2. Getting Players Back

After getting Rasmus Dahlin and Taylor Hall back from the Covid-19 protocol over the weekend, three more players joined the team at the skate this morning. Jake McCabe, Brandon Montour, and Tobias Rieder returned to the team.

All three are game-time decisions tonight, but Rieder may be the only one that does return to the lineup after the two defensemen stayed out for extra after practice.

3. Reinhart Game-Time Decision

Sam Reinhart is another player that is a game-time decision tonight. He practiced over the last few days but wasn’t on the ice this morning. Head coach Ralph Krueger said he’s working through a minor injury and is “very very confident” he could still play tonight.

Projected Lineup

Buffalo Sabres

Forwards

Jeff Skinner - Jack Eichel - Victor Olofsson

Taylor Hall - Eric Staal - Rasmus Asplund/Sam Reinhart

Tobias Rieder - Cody Eakin - Kyle Okposo

Steven Fogarty - Riley Sheahan - Tage Thompson

Defense

Rasmus Dahlin - Colin Miller

Matt Irwin - Henri Jokiharju

Brandon Davidson - Will Borgen

Jake McCabe - Brandon Montour (likely out)

Starting Goaltender: Linus Ullmark

New York Islanders

Forwards

Anders Lee - Mathew Barzal - Josh Bailey

Michael Dal Colle - Brock Nelson - Jordan Eberle

Leo Komarov - JG Pageau - Oliver Wahlstrom

Matt Martin - Casey Cizikas - Cal Clutterbuck

Defense

Adam Pelech - Ryan Pulock

Nick Leddy - Scott Mayfield

Andy Greene - Noah Dobson

Starting Goaltender: Ilya Sorokin