Game #3
Los Angeles Kings (0-0-0) vs. Buffalo Sabres (0-2-0)
Puck Drop: 7:00 PM EST | KeyBank Center | Buffalo, NY
TV: MSG-B
Radio: WGR 550
Know Your Opponent
Los Angeles Kings
Record: 0-0 | 0 PTS
There are no 2024-2025 statistics for the Kings yet as this will be their first game of the season. They went 4-1-1 in the preseason.
What to Watch
1. Lindy’s Return
Though the regular season is already underway for the Sabres, tonight will mark Lindy Ruff’s official return to Buffalo in his second stint as head coach (preseason excepted, of course). Tensions (and expectations) are high among fans as we have become frustrated, restless, and quite frankly, impatient with the trainwreck that this franchise has become. Spectators will likely see a nice, warm welcome for Ruff before the opening puck drop, but the pressure is really on to get Buffalo back on track and foster some much-needed chemistry between its players and coaching staff. Will Lindy be able to do it?
2. Hometown Woes
Historically, the Sabres have struggled to produce wins at home for what feels like at least a decade. During this stretch of missing the playoffs, offense – especially the power play – has also been a huge struggle for Buffalo. In Prague, they only managed to score two total goals to the Devils’ seven and went 0-for-6 with the man-advantage. Tonight has the potential to be a game to turn their offense around and grab the home crowd before it loses the same interest as previous years. Tonight could also be a momentum switch: win at home, keep winning at home, and give the crowd what they deserve…something to look forward to.
3. The Kings Begin
While the Sabres’ season already began with back-to-back losses in Prague, Los Angeles will play their season opener tonight. It will be one of many away games for the California team this month as they have nine on the road in the next two weeks. One Kings player for Buffalo’s defense to keep an eye on tonight will be center (and former winger) Quinton Byfield, who stunned in the preseason with four goals and one assist in three games. Another will be their captain, Anze Kopitar, an elite two-way player. Last year, he led his team in average ice time per game (19:39) and was third in points (70) behind teammates Adrian Kempe and Kevin Fiala, respectively.
Projected Lineups
Buffalo Sabres
Forwards*
Jiri Kulich – Tage Thompson – Alex Tuch
Zach Benson* – Dylan Cozens – Jack Quinn
Jordan Greenway – Ryan McLeod – Jason Zucker
Peyton Krebs – Beck Malenstyn – Sam Lafferty
*JJ Peterka and Zach Benson have returned to practice. Peterka is out for Thursday night’s game, while Benson is a game-time decision.
Defense
Rasmus Dahlin – Henri Jokiharju
Bowen Byram – Owen Power
Mattias Samuelsson – Connor Clifton
Goaltenders: Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (projected starter), Devon Levi
Los Angeles Kings
Forwards
Alex Laferriere – Anze Kopitar – Adrian Kempe
Tanner Jeannot – Phillip Danault – Trevor Moore
Kevin Fiala – Quinton Byfield – Warren Foegele
Andre Lee – Alex Turcotte – Trevor Lewis
Defense
Mikey Anderson – Jordan Spence
Vladislav Gavrikov – Kyle Burroughs
Joel Edmundson – Brandt Clarke
Goaltenders: Darcy Kuemper, David Rittich