Game 53

Buffalo Sabres (13-32-7) vs. New York Islanders (31-15-5)

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

TV: MSG-B

Radio: WGR 550

SB Nation Islanders Blog: Lighthouse Hockey

Know Your Opponent

New York Islanders

Record: (31-15-5)

Division Ranking: 3rd in East Division

PP: 22nd (18.4%)

PK: 5th (83.9%)

What to Watch

1. Another New Goaltender

Perhaps the biggest story entering Monday night’s game is that Michael Houser will get the start in net. This is huge for him - it’s his first game since March 7, 2020 and his NHL debut. Overall, he’s played in only two AHL games since the 2016-17 season. Check out this piece from the Sun Sentinel from years ago about Houser and his history, which makes tonight that much more remarkable.

Meanwhile, Linus Ullmark was also on the ice for the morning skate.

2. Sabres Hockey, in May!

When was the last time we saw a Sabres game in the month of May? This is just the second time in franchise history that Buffalo will play a regular-season game on this day, May 3. Back in 1995, Wayne Primeau scored the game-winning goal as Buffalo topped New Jersey to finish out that season.

3. The Final Four

Tonight’s game opens the final four games of the season for the Buffalo Sabres. The Sabres and Islanders return to action on Tuesday night for the series finale at KeyBank Center; Buffalo wraps up the season with a pair of games against the Penguins in Pittsburgh on Thursday and Saturday. And.. that’s all she wrote for this season in Buffalo, though the regular-season schedule league-wide does extend out a few more weeks.

Projected Lineup

Buffalo Sabres

Forwards

Jeff Skinner - Sam Reinhart - Victor Olofsson

Anders Bjork - Dylan Cozens - Arttu Ruotsalainen

Rasmus Asplund - Casey Mittelstadt - Tage Thompson

Riley Sheahan - Cody Eakin - Drake Caggiula

Defense

Mattias Samuelsson - Rasmus Ristolainen

Rasmus Dahlin - Henri Jokiharju

Jacob Bryson - Will Borgen

Starting Goaltender: Michael Houser (unconfirmed)

New York Islanders

Forwards

Leo Komarov - Matthew Barzal - Jordan Eberle

Anthony Beauvillier - Brock Nelson - Josh Bailey

Kyle Palmieri - Jean-Gabriel 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 (unconfirmed)