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Game 11 Preview & Open Thread: Sabres vs. Islanders

Oct 28, 2024; Buffalo, New York, USA; Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin (26) celebrates his goal with teammates during the second period against the Florida Panthers at KeyBank Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images

Game #11

New York Islanders (3-5-2) vs. Buffalo Sabres (4-5-1)

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

TV: MSG

Know Your Opponent

New York Islanders

Record: 3-5-2 | 8 PTS

Last Game: 2-0 loss to Columbus Blue Jackets

Division Ranking: 8th in Metropolitan

PP: 12.9%

PK: 62.5%


What to Watch

1. Losing Ways

The Islanders are driving the struggle bus as of late, having lost three in a row and four of their last five games. Earlier this week, they dropped a 3-1 decision to the Anaheim Ducks before falling 2-0 the next night to the Columbus Blue Jackets. After some other divisional games on Thursday, they now sit at the bottom of the Metropolitan division.

The Sabres, meanwhile, won three in a row before falling to the defending champs on Monday night. Buffalo sits fifth in the Atlantic division, with all the bottom four teams having nine points each. Buffalo and Detroit have an identical record on paper, too.

2. Struggling Power Plays

Heading into tonight’s game, we’re looking at two of the four worst power plays in the NHL. The Sabres are a measly 6.9 percent on the man advantage this season, while the Islanders are only slightly better at 12.9 percent.

Jason Zucker has scored both of Buffalo’s power play tallies to date, so let’s hope some other guys can get in on the action soon and that facet of the team’s play steps up.

3. Levi’s Turn

Devon Levi returns to the net for the fourth time this season, as he’s expected to get the start on Friday night. Levi has one win on the season and a 3.79 GAA, coupled with a .874 save percentage. (Of course, given how few games he’s played, those numbers are slightly skewed.)

He hasn’t played in over two weeks, with his last action coming on October 17 against the Blue Jackets when he allowed six goals on 25 shots faced.


Projected Lineups

Buffalo Sabres

Forwards

JJ Peterka – Tage Thompson – Alex Tuch
Jordan Greenway – Ryan McLeod – Dylan Cozens
Jason Zucker – Peyton Krebs – Jack Quinn
Beck Malenstyn – Sam Lafferty – Nicolas Aube-Kubel

Defense

Rasmus Dahlin – Henri Jokiharju
Bowen Byram – Owen Power
Mattias Samuelsson – Connor Clifton

Goalies: Devon Levi (projected starter), Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen

New York Islanders

Honestly – who knows… The Islanders have been putting their lines in a blender the last few games.

Forwards

Maxim Tsyplakov – Bo Horvat – Mathew Barzal
Simon Holmstrom – Brock Nelson – Kyle Palmieri
Anders Lee – Jean-Gabriel Pageau – Casey Cizikas
Matt Martin – Kyle MacLean – Hudson Fasching

Defense

Adam Pelech – Ryan Pulock
Mike Reilly – Noah Dobson
Dennis Cholowski – Scott Mayfield

Goalies: Ilya Sorokin, Semyon Varlamov

Talking Points